Do You Really Need a Four-Year Degree

Do You Really Need a Four-Year Degree In 2013, the pay gap between college graduates and everyone else reached a record high Americans with four-year degrees made 98 percent mora per hour on average than people without a degree did.But college degrees still arent the normonly 46 percent of people ages 25-29 had completed an associates degree or higher as of 2015. Plus, it seems like everywhere you look, someone has a side hustle or is dabbling in entrepreneurship, which brings up the question Do you really need a four-year degree?There is no perfect one-size-fits-all answer.However, it is important to look at the benefits of obtaining a four-year degree. When youre debating whether a degree is right for you, ask yourself three questionsWhat do you want to do? What is your ideal job?Do you want to create something for yourself, or would you rather work for someone else?What degree(s) does your chosen field require? Is there aminimum level of education that you must attainin order to be successful in the field?What Do You Want to Do?This question is harder to answer than it looks, butit is the basis of determiningwhether or notlage you need a four-year degree. Figuring out what you want to do will help you understand the kind of education your chosen path requires.For instance, if you want to go into a creative field like art or music, you might be able toforgo the four-year degree in favor of a program that truly enhances your abilities through a nontraditional route. On the other hand, if you want to go into a STEM field, you most definitely need a four-year degree.Do You Want to Create Something for Yourself or Work forSomeone Else?Figuring out whether you want to create your own company or work for an established organization can help determine the amount of schooling youll need. While a four-year degree can bebeneficial in both instances, it will most certainly allow you to obtain higher wages if youre working for someone els e. If youre working for yourself, you can probably get by without a four-year degree.If you are trying to breakinto the corporate world or at least start out there a four-year degree will give you the foundation you need to obtain the kind of job(s) and salaryyou desire.What Kind of Degree Does Your Chosen Field Require?Once youve determined the path you want to take and/or thejob you want to obtain, go online and do some research. What kinds of degrees do your future coworkers hold? Do the jobs youre aiming for now or in the future require certain credentials? If so, what are the steps to earning those credentials? Do you need a minimum amount of education?The point is, some career paths require certain degrees. Look into this now to avoid problems down the road.So Do You Need a Degree?While there are people who can get by withouthaving a four year degree,having one will almost always benefit you. Furthermore, obtaining high-level jobs in almost any field will require at least a bachelors.The bottom line is ifan employer has to chose between you without a degree and an equally strong candidate who has a degree, they will almost always go with the degree-holding candidate. And, as mentioned earlier, degree-holders earn almost twice as much as their non-degree-holding counterparts. A college degree will not only help you learn more about yourself and your industry, but it will also allow you to earn more than your peers.If you have the opportunity, earninga four-year degree will benefit you in many ways, both socially and in the workforce. If you feel atraditional college education isnt for you, try exploring other options, such as online or community college classes.Ultimately, a college degree is not 100 percent necessary, but it will make your life easier in the long run. Why not just go for it?Michele Lando is a certified professional resume writer and the founder ofWrite Styles.