The best R.O.I you can expect from a 4-year university is not ve

[ET1 SS]

The best R.O.I you can expect from a 4-year university is not very good.

High-schoolers earn more than college grads

It seems that The Payscale.com website did a study comparing hundreds of colleges across the nation, and their “return on investment.”

The report, ... cites the top private university as being California Institute of Technology, and explains that school’s “return on investment” over the course of a lifetime is $1.7 million.

Now by my own calculating. If you graduate at 22 and work until your 65, you would have a working career of 43 years.

$1.7Million divided by 43 years gives you an average annual gross income of $39k. So that means that as an engineer from a tech college you can expect to work a minimum-wage job, slowly climb in salary and then peak maybe earning somewhere around $45k/year.

$1.7Million may sound like a lot, but when stretched out over 43 years, not so much.

[Scott SW Ohio]

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

The best R.O.I you can expect from a 4-year university is not very good.

High-schoolers earn more than college grads

It seems that The Payscale.com website did a study comparing hundreds of colleges across the nation, and their “return on investment.”



Now by my own calculating. If you graduate at 22 and work until your 65, you would have a working career of 43 years.

$1.7Million divided by 43 years gives you an average annual gross income of $39k. So that means that as an engineer from a tech college you can expect to work a minimum-wage job, slowly climb in salary and then peak maybe earning somewhere around $45k/year.

$1.7Million may sound like a lot, but when stretched out over 43 years, not so much.

As an engineer, I'm pretty sure the salary figures you calculated are way too low. But you are taking "Return on Investment" as total lifetime earnings. Perhaps ROI here is actually the amount a graduate earns above and beyond what he/she would earn with just a high school diploma?

I know that as a college dropout in the early 1980s with a good tech job, I earned half the salary Procter & Gamble paid me after I returned to school and finished my degree. It has really paid off for me in the 26 years since.

[ET1 SS]

Ooops your right. I read it wrong the first time.

Sorry

[InvalidID]

The problem I have with these studies is who are they talking to? How do you average it out? Guys like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs (drop outs) should really throw the curve if we look at ALL the data shouldn't they?

[plowjockey]

I knew all along, that ignorance, would be the way to go.

Higher education is not always about the finanacial payback, otherwise no one would ever major in something silly, like Christian Studies.

Much of the time people go to expensive Colleges, because they want to and often already have the money to do so, since it's mostly known that a prestigious school, does not alway mean a prestigious job, as a state School diploma will get the job.

Not sure if anyone noticed, or not, but the U.S. had a massive recession a few years ago, in which many, many people, including many, many College graduates, got booted, from good paying jobs, to the unemployment line.

Now they often have to grovel, for low paying jobs, just like the rest of us losers.

After Obama is done with his second term, the economy will become wonderful and those Grads will once again be making the bucks.

BTW, Companies like Enterprise Rent-a-car, won't evenhire rental desk agents, unless they has a 4 year degree. Doesn not matter, what it is.

[ELOCN]

R.o.i.????

[InvalidID]

Originally Posted by ELOCN

R.o.i.????

Return on Investment.

[Yvonne's hubby]

There are a few truly "smart" people who get in and do stuff... in all sorts of different areas. Those are the ones that figure out all the tricks, which can then be learned by those who attend colleges. Obtaining degrees is a good thing.... but knowing what to do with whatever information one has at hand is much more promising. A good example of this is a set of encyclopedias... they have lots and lots of great information... but until someone applies that knowledge... it is quite useless. A great many of the "educated" fall in the category of that encyclopedia. They have all sorts of information, but its useless because they have no clue as how to apply any of it. Of the people that I know personally, who are what most consider wealthy, (as in worth several million bucks).... not a single one has a degree, and only a couple even have a high school diploma. Now, that being said.... the folks with college degrees do have better earning power in their careers than most of those without. The difference is whether you want to work your tail off and just get by, (dont get that high school diploma) or work your tail off and be able to get in debt... (get your high school diploma) or not work too hard at a good paying "cushy" job and be able to bury yourself in debt. (get a college degree)

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

The best R.O.I you can expect from a 4-year university is not very good.

High-schoolers earn more than college grads

It seems that The Payscale.com website did a study comparing hundreds of colleges across the nation, and their “return on investment.”



Now by my own calculating. If you graduate at 22 and work until your 65, you would have a working career of 43 years.

$1.7Million divided by 43 years gives you an average annual gross income of $39k. So that means that as an engineer from a tech college you can expect to work a minimum-wage job, slowly climb in salary and then peak maybe earning somewhere around $45k/year.

$1.7Million may sound like a lot, but when stretched out over 43 years, not so much.

One thing to remember with studies like this is...

Most people contrary to self image are in fact average. Average salaries are in the range of 41 thousand. A degree can help get in the door. But in the end your wages have to do with how much cash you produce for your employer. In real life a degree makes no difference after 10 years in a field. So your ROI must take place in less then 6 years. Because most collage students as well as average Americans can't do maths... Collage is considered a good career move.

Want to earn a good wage? Make hay in the market place.

[willow_girl]

Because most collage students as well as average Americans can't do maths... Collage is considered a good career move.

Spelling and grammar also are stumbling blocks.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Spelling and grammar also are stumbling blocks.

Some shout their command of the "English" language. Maybe they also don't have command of maths like they believe as well.

I think it goes like this.
One is better to remain quiet and thought a fool.
Then open their mouths and remove all doubt.


Start here...
Woodlands Maths Zone - Fun interactive maths games

[gracie88]

Some shout their command of the "English" language. Maybe they also don't have command of maths like they believe as well.

Wait, are you assuming that since she corrected your spelling, she must not understand math? That's some sloppy critical thinking there as well One might assume that grammar nazis lack tact, but there's no proven correlation between social skills and math.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by Scott SW Ohio

As an engineer, I'm pretty sure the salary figures you calculated are way too low.

I agree. Low returns like that certainly happen, but the returns can be very good also.

If you are going to college to work towards a liberal arts degree mainly so you can live the college experience, your return isn't likely to be very good. Likewise, career majors like teaching and social work aren't likely to pay more than a lot of careers that don't require a college education, but you may allow you to do something you like.

Specific career tracks where a good market for skills is anticipated can be a very good investment. Engineering is a good example.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by gracie88

Wait, are you assuming that since she corrected your spelling, she must not understand math? That's some sloppy critical thinking there as well One might assume that grammar nazis lack tact, but there's no proven correlation between social skills and math.

Which spelling? I was suggesting most americans need a deeper understanding of Maths. Doing calculations is simply out of the question if one fails a basic understanding. Maybe something is in fact missing from the average americans education.

[sidepasser]

Originally Posted by stanb999

One thing to remember with studies like this is...

Most people contrary to self image are in fact average. Average salaries are in the range of 41 thousand. A degree can help get in the door. But in the end your wages have to do with how much cash you produce for your employer. In real life a degree makes no difference after 10 years in a field. So your ROI must take place in less then 6 years. Because most collage students as well as average Americans can't do maths... Collage is considered a good career move.

Want to earn a good wage? Make hay in the market place.

Oh Stan, I believe what people are referring to is the spelling in bold above:

COLLEGE - a school of higher learning;
rather than COLLAGE - a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another, as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theater tickets, and fragments of an envelope.

I think that is what WG was indicating in her post.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by sidepasser

Oh Stan, I believe what people are referring to is the spelling in bold above:

COLLEGE - a school of higher learning;
rather than COLLAGE - a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another, as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theater tickets, and fragments of an envelope.

I think that is what WG was indicating in her post.

Thanks...

[ldc]

"Maths" is usually used by people in the British/Canadian system....

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by ldc

"Maths" is usually used by people in the British/Canadian system....

To true...

It was also used in the US however.