According to the U.S. Census Bureau, earning potential increases 75 percent for those with a bachelor's degree over those with just a high school diploma. While 83 percent of Ohioans hold a high school diploma and 21 percent have at least a bachelor's degree, just 39.9 percent of Scioto County residents have high school diplomas and 10.1 percent have earned at least a bachelor's degree, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.

<a href='http://www.ohio.edu/outlook/463n-034.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www.ohio.edu/outlook/463n-034.cfm</a>

Kit-Cat Wrote:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, earning potential increases 75 percent for those with a bachelor's degree over those with just a high school diploma.

That's a grossly flawed statistic, and unfortunately used by those who "care" in much of academia.

First some flaws- Simply extrapolate, as the collegiate academicians want you to. Say everyone gets a degree. Then what? Where is this extra revenue going to come from? The same jobs will exist and the same payrates will exist.

Secondly, how do these figures compare when you take out the extraordinarly high incomes...like MD's, JD's etc? Those people have bachellors degrees, so are they included in these Census data? That skews the data in favor of the college grads.

Thridly, who's accounting for lost income? Take 4 years of losing money (paying tuition, and working only part time) and the investment potential. You've got to make that up. And starting salaries for college grads are NOT what the Census bureau is talking about. They are typically well below the median salaries...and not much better than you'd make w/ 4 years' experience.

I'm sure the difference can eventually be made up...but why? Why should a manager at Starbucks have a business degree? Plenty of examples exist of shrewd people working their way up, and learning what they need to know to succeed while working. Why waste time w/ college? (Especially if you're going to major in 'Leisure Studies' or any degree program at Ohio U.)
Denying opportunities to talented people who don't have degrees also skews the data to favor college grads. Not surprisingly, educators promote this sort of bigotry.

I don't trust this stuff. Shepherding people to colleges when they don't belong is a blight on the economy and education.

DrTorch Wrote:

Kit-Cat Wrote:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, earning potential increases 75 percent for those with a bachelor's degree over those with just a high school diploma.

That's a grossly flawed statistic, and unfortunately used by those who "care" in much of academia.

First some flaws- Simply extrapolate, as the collegiate academicians want you to. Say everyone gets a degree. Then what? Where is this extra revenue going to come from? The same jobs will exist and the same payrates will exist.

Secondly, how do these figures compare when you take out the extraordinarly high incomes...like MD's, JD's etc? Those people have bachellors degrees, so are they included in these Census data? That skews the data in favor of the college grads.

Thridly, who's accounting for lost income? Take 4 years of losing money (paying tuition, and working only part time) and the investment potential. You've got to make that up. And starting salaries for college grads are NOT what the Census bureau is talking about. They are typically well below the median salaries...and not much better than you'd make w/ 4 years' experience.

I'm sure the difference can eventually be made up...but why? Why should a manager at Starbucks have a business degree? Plenty of examples exist of shrewd people working their way up, and learning what they need to know to succeed while working. Why waste time w/ college? (Especially if you're going to major in 'Leisure Studies' or any degree program at Ohio U.)
Denying opportunities to talented people who don't have degrees also skews the data to favor college grads. Not surprisingly, educators promote this sort of bigotry.

I don't trust this stuff. Shepherding people to colleges when they don't belong is a blight on the economy and education.

i totally agree

It's going to be a long damn time before we have to worry about over-credentialing as an issue in southeastern Ohio. It's hard enough to get qualified teachers, doctors, and clergy to stay down there for more than a couple of years.

One thing I always have admired about OU is its role as an engine of upward social mobility in Appalachian Ohio. If you don't have family ties there, it's hard to understand what I'm talking about, but if you do, you probably know that the "Harvard on the Hocking" is invaluable. It certainly has been for my extended family for the past three generations.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go get my head checked after saying that much good stuff about OU.

DevilGrad Wrote:One thing I always have admired about OU is its role as an engine of upward social mobility in Appalachian Ohio. If you don't have family ties there, it's hard to understand what I'm talking about, but if you do, you probably know that the "Harvard on the Hocking" is invaluable. It certainly has been for my extended family for the past three generations.

I KNEW you were Kit Kat!

And I knew you really went to ONU.