re: The ROI on college investment

I think the college diploma is becoming the new high school diploma in the sense that, even if the job definitely does not need a college education, because (I guess) employers want to see that you had the discipline to finish a degree.

So, in that sense, getting your undergrad degree in general studies is fine if you're just looking for any entry level job and need any degree.

If you're looking for an actual high-paying, specialized job, without going to grad school, then you need to get a degree in a field like engineering or business.


And, having worked with college students, I try to emphasize the following:

Are you trying to do something outside of school related to your degree to help your career, or are you just sitting around and doing nothing productive outside of your studying?

A degree in mechanical engineering is great, but if you don't have any form of experience through a job, internship or research in the field while you're in school, then you're going to be passed by by everyone who does have this experience. You can't just go to class and then hang out/party and expect a job to fall in your lap.

Of course, there are still trades that require trade school, so if that's what you're interested in, then a four-year degree probably isn't worth it.

So, to answer your question, the return on investment is specific to the individual and their goals. If you're looking to make six figures and you're a gender studies major with a limited resume outside of school, then you're probably not going to get close to the return on investment that you want.