Is College Worth It?

Kerbal
Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:01:37 +0000

So… I am considering going to college.

I am 26. I am married and have a daughter who is almost one (so I think that qualifies me to post in the Parenting forum? ).

I work as a System Engineer for a Fortune 500 company and make a decent salary at $75k/yr and have no college education. I self-taught most of my computer skills and have been fortunate enough to transition it into career the last 8 or so years.

I am considering going back to school now. I can pay out of pocket for a degree so cost isn’t the issue- and I would clearly have to go part time. In my state (Tennessee), you can take the entire first two years of classes at a community college at a much cheaper $/credit hr rate. And it can be done online. After 2 years, I would transfer to one of the state schools here and then I could enroll as a part time student and just flex my hours at work.

I am going back and forth about the value a degree would have. My wife holds a Master’s degree so education is important to us. It’s just- I don’t have any. At this point would it be worth it for me? I have a great career. I have experience. I make a pretty decent salary. But I am also not satisfied.

I think the reasons I would like to go back to school are the following:

1) Set an example for my daughter
2) Career change. I am 26 and not happy with my career. I don’t like working in IT at all. But I have nothing other than my experience in IT to fall back on.
3) I can afford to pay out of pocket.

I was thinking about getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering or Physics. I love physics, I enjoyed it back in HS. But I don’t know how marketable a Physics degree would be.

I suppose I am just torn. At this point in my life where I am relatively successful without a degree- would it be worth going and getting one?