On pursuing a career that’s not related to your college degree

Episode show notes, selected highlights, and related content:

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

• How has my education (or lack of a degree) shaped the opportunities I’ve had in my career so far?
• In what ways has my degree (or field of study) helped me beyond just getting a job?
• Are there any skills or values from your degree that you still apply today?
• If I could go back, would I choose the same course or a different path to improve my career and earning potential?
• How can I continue to learn and upskill to maintain or improve my employment prospects, regardless of my formal education?

DIPLOMA vs DISKARTE

According to the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) study: “How does a college degree improve graduates’ employment and earnings potential?“

If you have a college degree, there is:

• Lower unemployment risk
  Bachelor’s degree holders are half as likely to be unemployed compared to those with only a high school diploma.
• Significantly higher earnings
  On average, bachelor’s degree holders make $40,500 more annually, representing an 86% higher median income compared to high school graduates.
• Greater lifetime earnings
  Over a lifetime, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn about $1.2 million more than high school–only peers.
• Financial well-being
  87% of bachelor’s degree holders report feeling financially secure, 20 percentage points higher than groups with other education levels.
• Additional quality-of-life benefits
  Degree holders are much less likely to live in poverty (3.5 times lower risk), more likely to have employer-provided health insurance, and may experience a longer life expectancy.