Let’s face it. The application to any college can be quite exciting, yet daunting at the same time. College is one of the biggest stepping stones that anybody can come across. The question then arises: Is it worth it? The hard work all pays off in the end when the students graduate with a college degree and a huge sense of pride. These four years after high school are worth it.

Senior year of high school is entertaining to say the least. Finally at the top of the hierarchy of  high school, it is jam packed with applications and deadlines. It is the year that a student decides whether or not to continue their education, go into the workforce, or join the Armed Forces. Either way, it is a pocket of time that can be reflected on the rest of each student’s life.

In the U.S., jobs are constantly in high demand, and the majority of adults aim to be employed.  Carefully putting together resumés and completing interviews is only a small piece of the process. The more education one has on a resumé, the more likely one is to receive that job.

According to CNN Money, from the 11.6 million jobs created after the Great Recession, about 8.4 million went to those with at least a Bachelor’s degree, and another 3 million went to the rest of the college degree recipients. Towards the end of the Great Recession from about 2007 to 2010, 7.2 million jobs were lost, and 5.6 million of those were lost by high school graduates. The college graduates had more of an advantage when the decline in jobs occurred.

Economically, short term, going to a trade school or straight into the workforce or the military may be a more sound choice. However in the long run, the benefits of a college degree actually do make a big difference

According to an article written by Christopher S. Rugaber for USA Today, college graduates earned 56% more than high school graduates in 2015. LA Times had reported that throughout their entire lifetime,  high school graduates will earn about $1.3 million while Bachelor’s degree recipients will earn around $2.3 million.

While income is a huge factor, there are different preferences for the students who do not desire to attend college, given the perks that come along with a degree. Some students prefer not to go to college at all. Most students know someone who may go straight into military service or enter specialized schools such as cosmetics or carpentry.

Additional schooling after secondary education seems intimidating due to the fact that there are more projects and homework to complete. For some, a career in the Armed Forces or trade school is their preferred route. The military provides a stable career with full benefits and in some cases, money bonuses. Yet not everyone is qualified for military service. For some, the desire to go to trade school in place of traditional college is the route they take. Their passion leads them in a different direction.

Although those careers do provide a moderate salary, college graduates are still more likely to be more financially successful in the long run. Career School Now stated that there are not as many scholarship opportunities in trade schools as there are in traditional colleges.

College provides the experiences some may need in their lifetime. It is a time when people discover what they want to do in life.

Although the money and benefits involved within the military or a trade job may seem promising, college graduates do end up earning more in the long run, receiving a 4-year degree that is worth all of the effort that was put forth.