The following is an excerpt from a column by Gary L. Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research at 九色视频, that appeared in the Jan. 28 issue of .
Part of the genius of American higher education is its ability to strengthen the social and economic fabric of the country by meeting the dreams of individual citizens. The real value of higher education lies in this dual benefit.
However, increasingly, higher education is valued more as a means of personal financial advancement than for its societal good. And the long-term benefit of a college degree is clouded by the economic uncertainty of the moment.
An article in The Eagle demonstrated both of these points ("These days, is college a good value?" Jan. 24 Local & State).
The article emphasized the current difficulty students face in scraping together the financial resources to continue work toward a degree. The question was portrayed as entirely proximate: If I spend the money to go to school, will I immediately get a good job when I graduate?
The personal value of obtaining a college degree extends through an entire lifetime. College graduates make more money in their work careers. Even in these times, where the struggle to pay tuition is indeed difficult for many, nearly every study has shown that getting a college degree is one of the very best investments one can make in a lifetime.
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