--- title: 5 Reasons Why College is Worth the Money description: You may be surprised to learn how valuable a college degree really is - even if you're only planning on getting an associate degree. Visit our blog to see why. image: https://blog.jjc.edu/hubfs/Blog_Images/giphy.gif --- [Joliet Junior College Home Page ![Joliet Junior College Home Page](https://blog.jjc.edu/hubfs/RGB%20JJC%20Wolf%20Outline%202-Color%20Purple%20White.svg)](https://jjc.edu/) - [Apply Now](https://jjc.edu/getting-started/admissions/apply-now) - [My JJC](https://stujjc.sharepoint.com/) - [iCampus](https://icampus.instructure.com/) - [Technology Resources](https://www.jjc.edu/technology-resources) - [Giving](http://www.jjc.edu/giving) Open Search ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=224127874799132&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=224127874799132&ev=PageView%20&noscript=1) - [Getting Started](http://www.jjc.edu/getting-started) - [Admissions](http://www.jjc.edu/getting-started/admissions) - [Admitted Students](https://www.jjc.edu/getting-started/admitted-students) - [Pay for College](https://www.jjc.edu/getting-started/pay-college) - [Register for Courses](http://www.jjc.edu/getting-started/register-courses) - 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[Community](http://www.jjc.edu/community) - [Adult Education](https://jjc.edu/community/workforce-education-adult-ed-literacy) - [Continuing Education](https://www.jjc.edu/community/continuing-education) - [Facility Rentals](http://www.jjc.edu/community/facility-rentals) - [Small Business Services](https://jjc.edu/jjc-entrepreneur-business-center-getting-started) - [Vendors](http://www.jjc.edu/community/vendors) - [Workforce Development](http://www.jjc.edu/community/workforce-development) - [About JJC](http://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc) - [College Leadership](http://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/leadership) - [Inclusive Excellence & Advocacy](https://jjc.edu/about-jjc/office-inclusive-excellence-and-advocacy) - [Employment](https://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/college-leadership/administration/human-resources/jobs-careers) - [Freedom of Information](https://jjc.edu/about-jjc/freedom-information-act) - [History](http://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/history) - [Institutional Effectiveness](http://jjc.edu/about-jjc/institutional-research-effectiveness) - [Locations](https://jjc.edu/about-jjc/campus-locations) - [Places of Interest](https://jjc.edu/about-jjc/places-interest) - [Police & Safety](https://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/college-leadership/administration/finance-administrative-services/police-and-safety) - [Strategic Plan](https://jjc.edu/about-jjc/strategic-plan) - [Apply Now](https://jjc.edu/getting-started/admissions/apply-now) - [My JJC](https://stujjc.sharepoint.com/) - [iCampus](https://icampus.instructure.com/) - [Technology Resources](https://www.jjc.edu/technology-resources) - [Giving](http://www.jjc.edu/giving) Open Search # JJC Blog Learn more about student life and what you can accomplish at Joliet Junior College in our blog. # 5 Reasons Why College is Worth the Money Posted by [Sam Sottosanto](https://blog.jjc.edu/author/sam-sottosanto) on Jan 29, 2018 9:08:00 AM ![Sam Sottosanto](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/college%20worth%20it%20banner.jpg?width=666&name=college%20worth%20it%20banner.jpg "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college") It's no secret that college can be expensive - but it's also an investment in your future. When you spend money on classes to obtain a degree, remember that you're doing it to give yourself a huge advantage in the workforce. How huge? You may be surprised to learn how valuable a college degree really is - even if you're only planning on getting an associate degree. Take a look at five reasons why college is a good idea despite the high cost below.  **1. You'll make more money.** Did you know that just by earning your associate degree, you'll make [18 to 26 percent more a year](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/03/29/wages-earnings-increase-significantly-associate-degree-holders) on aveage compared to someone with only a high school diploma?  According to the [Pew Research Center](http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/05/15/chapter-5-the-monetary-value-of-a-college-education/), on average high schools grads will only earn $770,000 within the course of 40 years. Associate degree holders will earn about $1 million over that same time period. If you choose to get a bachelor's degree, your average lifetime earnings will be $1.4 million. ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college lifetime earnings](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/lifetime%20earnings2.jpg?width=362&name=lifetime%20earnings2.jpg "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college lifetime earnings") **2. You're more likely to land a good job.** The trend continues to be that if you have an associate degree (or other advanced degree) you're more likely to get a good job.  [InsideHigherEd.com](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/07/26/increasing-share-good-paying-jobs-go-college-graduates) defines a "good job" as one that pays more than $35,000 a year. From 1991 to 2017, these good jobs increased by 3.2 million for associate degree holders and declined by 1 million for those with only a high school diploma. ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college job increases](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/amount%20jobs.jpg?width=514&name=amount%20jobs.jpg "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college job increases")   **3. You're more likely to find a job.** CNN reports that college grads are [less likely to be unemployed](http://money.cnn.com/infographic/economy/college-degree-earnings/index.html). The unemployment rate for degree holders was 2.5 percent in 2016 and 5.6 percent for those with only high schoold diplomas.  CNN also reports that college grads are 82.6 percent more likely to have jobs, compared to 67.8 percent of those who only graduated from high school. ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college unemployment rate](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/unemployment3.jpg?width=338&name=unemployment3.jpg "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college unemployment rate")   **4. You'll have job security.** According to [EducationCorner.com](https://www.educationcorner.com/benefit-of-earning-a-college-degree.html), college degree holders are more valuable to their employers, therefore making them less suseptible to layoffs. [Payscale](https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2017/06/higher-education-linked-higher-pay-job-security-better-health) reports that only 4 percent of bachelor's degree holders lived in poverty, compared to 13 percent of those with only high school diplomas. ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college job security](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/poverty2.jpg?width=335&name=poverty2.jpg "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college job security")   **5. You're more likely to have higher job satisfaction and be in better health.** A study from the [University of Maine](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-merisotis/want-to-be-happier-and-he_b_8288354.html) showed that college grads were 44 percent more likely to be in good health than those who only had a high school diploma. College grads also volunteer 2.3 times more than their peers who only graduated from high school. It's also important to note that if you're studying to work in a field that personally interests you, you'll be much happier with your future job.  ![5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college happiness](https://blog.jjc.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/giphy.gif?width=400&name=giphy.gif "5 reasons why college is worth the money jjc joliet junior college happiness")     **Related Posts** [Why Attending Community College is One of the Smartest Decisions You Can Make](https://app.hubspot.com/blog/487869/analyze/post/4446045160/performance/views)[11 Hot Careers You Can Study for at JJC](https://blog.jjc.edu/11-hot-careers-you-can-study-for-at-jjc)[7 of the Happiest Jobs You Can Get with a JJC Degree](https://blog.jjc.edu/7-of-the-happiest-jobs-you-can-get-with-a-jjc-degree)[Attending a Community College is No Joke](https://blog.jjc.edu/sitcom-kidding-aside-attending-a-community-college-is-no-joke)[5 Life Hacks for JJC Students](https://blog.jjc.edu/5-life-hacks-for-jjc-students)[10 Things College Students Can Get for Free or at a Discount ](https://blog.jjc.edu/10-things-college-students-can-get-for-free-or-at-a-discount) [---](https://blog.jjc.edu/5-writing-tips-for-students)  [![Learn How to Get Started: Human Services](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487869/8280af25-8ec4-49c2-ae46-0374040c6d75.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487869/8280af25-8ec4-49c2-ae46-0374040c6d75) Tags: [Money Saving Tips](https://blog.jjc.edu/topic/money-saving-tips), [Careers](https://blog.jjc.edu/topic/careers), [Tips & Tricks](https://blog.jjc.edu/topic/tips-tricks) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - 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