Pursuing higher education allows you to develop knowledge, learn new skills and better your professional prospects. That said, going to university comes with its set of advantages and disadvantages, both of which you must consider before enrolling in a course.
Below, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of going to university to help you make a more confident and informed decision.
Pros of going to university
Here are 10 benefits of going to university worth considering:
1. You’ll be able to secure specialised jobs
Gaining a university degree in your area of interest will improve your chances of securing a job role in specialised fields. Indeed, most skilled jobs require academic training as well as a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Some examples include careers in healthcare, engineering, education, law and accounting.
So, while there are many alternatives to university, a university education is essential for certain roles and careers.
2. You’ll earn more money
Did you know that college graduates earn significantly more than high school leavers?
So, if you’re a high school student aspiring towards having a lucrative career, a college degree will give you a head start.
Meanwhile, if you’re a professional with industry experience and you’re hoping to land a promotion or develop your career further, a university degree can certainly help. That said, this will also depend on your industry as well as your employer.
3. You’ll develop transferable skills
Transferable skills refer to a set of skills that you can use in any job role. Some of the most useful transferable skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, multitasking, leadership and creativity.
So, attending a university will not only provide you with specific subject knowledge but also a chance to hone other skills that make you more employable.
4. You’ll broaden your mind
Going to university gives you a chance to move somewhere new, meet people from diverse backgrounds, and make friends from across the world.
Not only will you broaden your social circle but your mindset, too.
Plus, apart from studying, you can throw yourself into other extracurriculars that revolve around culture, politics, arts and sports. All of which will contribute to your personal growth.
5. You’ll gain expertise in your favorite subject
If you know what field you wish to pursue a career in or are passionate about a particular subject and want to learn more about it, then college could be for you.
Pursuing a degree will help you become an expert in your areas of interest and allow you to delve deeper into these topics. You could even pursue a career within academia by obtaining a master’s and PhD qualification after finishing your undergraduate studies.
6. You’ll hone your research skills
A university degree teaches you how to think analytically and critically, but also how to conduct thorough research, question assumptions, become apt at solving problems and deduce informative conclusions.
Whether it’s research for a bio-med project or a literature thesis, this is a skill that is invaluable to employers, and one that you will utilize time and time again throughout your career.
7. You’ll have access to networking opportunities
Your professional network plays a critical role in your success in this day and age.
University will allow you to create and broaden your network of professional contacts, be it through volunteering opportunities, internships or meet-and-greets that can bring you in touch with potential employers and people who can support you in your future endeavors.
8. You’ll become more independent
For young students, university life gives you a taste of living independently. Not only are you exposed to new social settings but you also learn about basic life skills such as doing the laundry, cooking and paying bills.
This newfound sense of independence will give you a chance to grow into an adult and give you more responsibility over yourself. It may sound daunting at first, but you’ll learn a lot and grow from this experience.
9. You’ll be able to see the world
If you choose to enroll in an academic institution in a different country, this will give you the chance to travel and study at the same time. At many universities, you’ll also have the option to do a year abroad, and there may also be courses that include field trips to different countries.
So, if you’re passionate about traveling and exploring new places, university could definitely open up a few opportunities for you to do just that.
10. You’ll gain work experience
As a university student, you’ll have your fair pick of internships and part-time jobs to choose from, which will allow you to attain experience and gain technical skills. Some degree programs offer a year in industry, but also job placement opportunities that you can pursue during summer breaks.
This will ultimately give you a head start as a graduate looking for entry-level positions, and it will certainly contribute to your résumé.
Cons of going to university
Like everything else, going to university has its shortcomings. Here are 10 disadvantages of going to university.
1. You’ll end up in debt
Everyone knows how expensive education is nowadays. Therefore, unless you have the financial means to pay for your education upfront, you’ll be graduating not just with a degree but also a considerable debt.
Plus, there other expenses you need to take into consideration, including your accommodation costs as well as living expenses.
That said, you can always apply for financial aid, scholarships and bursaries that will lift some of the financial burden off your shoulders.
2. You’ll commit a long time to your studies
Going to university is a long-term commitment, which could require three to eight years of your life, depending on the course you choose to take.
This can be a real challenge if you’re a working professional, because you’ll have to give up your full-time job to return to university.
But even if you’re a young student, this factor can still be a consideration for you. After all, you’ll be depriving yourself of years of income and piling on student debt. That said, part-time study options could allow you to work while you work towards your degree.
3. You won’t be guaranteed a job
The only guarantee you get from going to university is that you’ll be graduating with a degree (if you work hard enough). Apart from that, there is no guarantee that you’ll find a job in your field easily or that you’ll be promoted.
The job market remains quite competitive, and you’ll need to assemble a variety of skills, qualifications and experience in order to stand out from other candidates. However, on many occasions, a college degree could be a minimum requirement to qualify for a role.
4. You’ll lack technical skills
Not all degrees offer hands-on experience and the chance to develop technical skills.
While many entry-level roles do offer training, your lack of technical skills could prolong how quickly you land a job and kick-start your career.
Internships, part-time work and volunteering are all great options to attain some technical experience in the fields you’re interested in.
5. There won’t be a lot of contact time
Some courses may offer significantly less contact time than others.
At school, you may have gotten a solid eight hours of classes, five days a week, but at university, you might find that you only have five to eight hours of lectures, seminars and workshops a week. While this does depend on the faculty and course you select, it could still be deterring to receive such few hours of teaching considering the extravagant tuition fees you will be paying.
A lot of courses require independent study and research, so you’ll likely find yourself more often sitting in the library than in a lecture hall.
6. It can be overwhelming
While studying at a university can be exciting, it can also be an overwhelming experience, especially if you’re living far away from home. Moving away can be stressful and very hard for those attached to their family and friends.
Homesickness is quite common, especially among college freshmen, but it’s something you can overcome with time, especially if you devote yourself to your studies.
7. You may earn less than an apprentice
It may come as a surprise, but you can earn more with an apprenticeship than with an undergraduate degree.
Apprentices get a pay increase through an award program as they progress from one level to another; they may earn a higher salary than you based on the time they have been working in a company or because of their level of competency and experience.
So, in some cases, embarking on an apprenticeship may be a more viable option than pursuing a degree in that field.
8. You’ll have intense workload
School is hard.
On top of seminars and lectures, there’s also mid-term exams, coursework, projects and essays to be written. Juggling this kind of workload can be overwhelming, especially if you also choose to work during your studies or decide to take part in sports and societies, which will also take up a good chunk of your time.
If you’re prone to stress and you struggle with multitasking and organization, university could be quite challenging, but you’ll adapt and learn how to cope with your workload with time.
9. It requires a lot of self-discipline
Throughout your degree, you’ll be responsible for managing your own time and studies. It will require a lot of self-discipline on your part.
Of course, this is a great learning experience and an opportunity to grow, but if you don’t feel ready to take this kind of step, then perhaps you could consider other alternatives to university and enroll when you are ready.
10. You might change your mind
What if you register on a course and later change your mind to choose a different career path? Well, you’ll have to wait till next semester to make the switch.
However, the university may not transfer your previously acquired credit hours to the new academic program, so you might have to start all over again. However, if you end up studying the subject you’re truly passionate about, then it will be worth it!
How to decide if you should go to university
Reflecting on the following questions can help when you’re stuck in this dilemma. Writing down your answers in a journal or your notes app can help, as you’ll be able to revisit them at a later stage and see what still resonates.
1. What is your end goal?
Not everyone has a clear picture of what they would like their future to look like. It can be hard to picture “the rest of your life” when you’ve just finished school, after all. But although your circumstances and some of your preferences might change over time, some things, like your values, likely won’t.
If you get pure joy out of something (let’s say traveling or caring for animals), it’s unlikely that it will go away anytime soon. So, ask yourself: would working 9 to 5 from a small cubicle make me happy? Would I want more flexibility and a better work–life balance? Would I be better off being my own boss?
Consider your character and where you feel most “at home”. That will give you a hint as to what lifestyle would suit you, and you can start setting goals to get there.
2. Is a degree required for your desired profession?
If your desired career path doesn’t strictly require a degree, you could be better off completing an apprenticeship or internship instead of going to university.
Enrolling in an associate’s degree instead of a bachelor’s degree, or completing a shorter diploma, combined with your work experience could give you an advantage over other candidates while also removing the need to stay in university for four years or more.
3. Can you afford it?
Although university can be costly, an associate’s degree can earn you nearly half a million dollars more over the span of your career than if you had not attended university at all. A bachelor’s degree, meanwhile, can earn you twice as much — that’s according to a 2024 report by the Georgetown University Centre on Education and the Workforce. When researching different ways of funding your studies, keep these figures in mind!
Having said that, some industries are likelier to pay more attention to your work experience than your educational qualifications — so, be sure to do your research into the typical requirements for your target role, any prospective employers you have in mind, and your industry more generally.
4. Have you considered any other options?
If it’s not a loud “yes!”, it’s likely a “no”. So, rather than take out student loans and push yourself to do something you’re not fully committed to, explore your options — and give yourself a deadline if the idea of exploring indefinitely makes you anxious.
You could, for example, work for six months to build your skill set, earn some money, and make professional connections; or you could volunteer, combining part-time work with helping others. If it doesn’t turn out to be what you wanted, you can submit your college application at the next opportunity.
If you find work in a relevant field to the one you dream of working in, even better! It will give you a real flavor of what the work is like, which will be an eye-opener.
5. Do you see yourself returning to school later in life?
People will tell you that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, and that you can always change your mind. While it’s true that attending university as an older adult is by no means impossible, it does come with its own set of challenges.
You’ll be juggling studying with working, at the least. Throw parenting, caregiving or other responsibilities that may come with being an older adult into the mix, and you see how little time you’re left with for rest, hobbies and socializing — all of which are vital components in your wellbeing.
Sometimes, the best time is now.
Final thoughts
In 2023, 61% of recent high school graduates went on to enroll in colleges and universities. Though that’s the majority, there is still a significant number of young adults who choose different paths; some go on to find work, some take a gap year, and some (no doubt) graduate and have no plan at all.
No matter how you look at it, any decision you make is bound to have its positives and negatives. So, give yourself enough time to reflect, weigh all the pros and cons, and don’t entirely dismiss your intuition. Sometimes we know what we want but second-guess ourselves anyway.
Join the discussion! Can you think of any other reasons you should or shouldn’t go to university? Share them with us in the comments section below!
This article is a partial update of an earlier version originally published on August 25, 2017, and contains contributions by Electra Michaelidou. In the update, we added a new section called “How to decide if you should go to university”.
