With a few special exceptions, the more education an individual has the more money they will earn over the course of their lives. And most Americans realize that. So much so that they scrimp and save to put support their children – or themselves – through college. Even those who don’t feel that college is accessible to them realize post-secondary education and training is critical, so they go on to a trade or professional school. Despite our collective realization that education is the key to long-term financial stability, many Americans have very little faith in the nation’s college and university systems and believe that they function more like corporations and less like institutions there to serve and help develop our country’s future workers.
A recent study by the found that while, ten years ago, 45 percent of Americans thought college was available to the majority of students that number has now dropped to 28 percent. Today, parents and students think education is too expensive and that schools are far too concerned with their bottom line than they are whether or not students are getting the most of out their education.
Over the course of their working life, the average high school graduates can expect to earn $1.2 million while an individual with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $2.1 million. This huge gap in lifetime income clearly illustrates the benefits – and need – for higher education. Graduates aren’t the only ones who benefit, though. The larger society prospers because the workforce will be better prepared and workers earning higher incomes go on to pay additional tax dollars, money that can then go to fund federal programs.
It is discouraging, and alarming, to realize that the public has very little faith in the higher education system. Over time, as the trust erodes, so too will the enthusiasm to pursue education after high school. When the desire fades, enrollment will begin to fall, setting off a chain reaction that puts our nation’s workforce and economy at great risk.
The best way to dispel this pessimism and rebuild the trust is to first do a better job of communicating with parents and students about university life and the options available to them. We must pressure policymakers to make college more accessible by expanding federal grant programs and offering loan forgiveness programs for students who enter public service, commit to working in under served communities or enter fields where there are staffing shortages. And universities and colleges must begin to view themselves not as businesses their to earn a profit but as organizations designed to uplift students and – tomorrow’s workforce – and prepare them for the future.
I would like to comment on the above statement. I am an African American disabled veteran. I went back to college and obtained two master degrees. Upon entering the workforce, I was discriminated against, hated on and even assaulted because I was prior military and held two graduate degrees with years of experience to support my degrees. It is heart wrenching that one strives to educate themselves to support a family and face road blocks such as this. Even having faced these obstacles, I still strongly advise my children to further their education. Being Female, African American and educated is really tough in today’s workforce.
Dear Judge Mathis,
I visited your website this evening with the intent of commending you and your show for high-lighting cultural aspects of our African-American community and culture on your recent shows. I tape your show daily, and tonight I saw the segment on the role of worship and churches within the community. Not only was the segment well done, but I applaud you and your staff for taking the initiative to create and air it for all to see it. I admire your willingness to claim your personal history and cultural heritage on a stage as far reaching as yours! The reason I attached my response to this particular blog focused on college, is because I am the principal of an early college high school on the southwest side of Indianapolis in an urban, diverse, and impoverished area. My students are phenomenal! They enter our program understanding the goal is to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree through our higher ed partnership with Vincennes University. This May of 2010, we anticipate 75 of our 79 seniors earning both!! This is our inagural graduating class, as we opened in 2007 when these graduates were sophomores. They were not stellar students, and almost all are first generation college students. We are now seeing them gain entrance into colleges and their associate degree credits are transferring extremely well. We now have 300 students total and should grow to 350 next year. We are a public school and tuition is FREE for students. I want to thank you for your commentary about college; we preach it all day every day and our students are listening. The name of my school is Ben Davis University High School and you can visit our website at http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bduhs
Take care, and keep speaking out for those who are still in the process of finding their own voices! (PS: I use ALL of your techniques from the show when these students, whom I care so much about, come to my office in trouble! And I tell their parents the same things I hear you say to parents in court! My staff laughs at me for quoting you.)
Best Regards,
Sheryl
Hi Judge Mathis. I was watching your program today, March 26, 2010 and I heard you say that you owed more than 200,000 dollars in loans. My question is, “How did you get out of debt and mantained your family.” I graduated with my Master degree in Administrative Science and I am in over $50,000 in loans. I wanted to go to Law School and become a Lawyer, but with my current payment for my loans, I cannot afford to do so. It has been a dream for me to go to Law School, but I can’t afford it. Is there any programas out there that will help me pay my student loans off and help me with attending Law School? I am 43 years old and I would still love to go to Law School. I just hoping that you can help me with my dreams and my passion to be a Lawyer.
Thank you.