College is expensive, and students can become discouraged when seeing news of CEOs claiming that college degrees are no longer worth it. While degrees are certainly less attractive now that tuition costs and student debt are rising, they are far from worthless.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent report on average earnings based on level of education confirms that college degrees still correlate with greater income and lower unemployment compared to high school diplomas. In fact, weekly earnings for all levels of education had increased from the previous year.

The unemployment rate for nearly all levels of education also increased, which has likely contributed to the growing negativity surrounding college degrees. 

One reason for rising unemployment is the increasing prevalence of AI in the workplace, which has led to job cuts and uncertainty. Job loss due to increasing automation is an old fear which the AI revolution has reignited, further fueling the debate on a college degree’s current value.

As in the past, however, reports say that new jobs are emerging even as old ones disappear. Yet these new jobs also demand new skills, which current college graduates may not be taught in their classes.

As such, a degree alone is not enough for some employers. Many want graduates who have job experience, and NIU’s career center has some resources to assist students.

“We know that college graduates coming in with some experience through internships or practicums or experiential learning is crucial for their success,” said Michaela Holtz, director of Career Readiness and Success at NIU. “The way we are supporting that is through launching Huskie Career Launchpad through Suitable. It allows students to document and reflect and take advantage of and access opportunities that help them do that.”

There is much uncertainty in the world, and change is occurring at a pace that can be frightening. Despite that, college degrees remain valuable, even if they are no longer the golden ticket to a stable career.