The road to success can be fraught with so many detours and decisions, it's easy to be confused. After graduating from high school, should you get a job? Go to school? What kind of school should you choose? You have lots of decisions to make. In the job market of the 21st century, an education and job skills will be more important than ever. Community and technical colleges offer opportunity, quality, convenience and affordability.
For those thinking about entering the work force without the benefit of an advanced degree, you might want to reconsider. Jobs requiring no skills may be available now, but Hazel Reinhardt, in her Metro Area Master Academic Plan to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, says, "Increasingly, jobs are high-skill high-pay, or low-skill low-pay. Low-skill high-pay jobs are disappearing." She goes on to say, "The future demand for occupation-related programs, especially those offered at community and technical colleges, looks bright." And further, "These jobs also pay more."
According to a recent report by the American Association of Community Colleges, the average starting salary for recent graduates in one of the top 10 "hot" programs at a two-year college is $28,711. Even with a starting wage of $8.50 per hour for a low-skill job, a technical or community college education means you can earn an average of $11,000 more per year than someone with only a high school diploma. Multiplied out over a 30-year career, that's a difference of $330,000. Sound like a lot of money? It is, and it's worth your investment of time and money now. Delaying your education for just a few years means earning thousands of dollars less during your career.
Think about it this way. According to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, tuition and fees at your local community or technical college will cost you approximately $2,218 per year. That minimal investment pays off many times over in a quality education, a higher starting salary and opportunities for promotions during your career. Even if you elect to continue your education at a four-year university, you can save a significant amount of money by taking your first two years at a Metro Community or Technical College. Records indicate that community and technical college graduates who transfer to state universities do as well or better than the students who started at the university do.
All Metro Community and Technical colleges in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area offer a host of services, designed to make sure you succeed and achieve your dreams. In addition to a quality education, community and technical colleges provide services in counseling, advising, tutoring, college readiness, job placement and more. And, not only is an education at a community or technical college affordable, financial aid and grants are available for those who qualify.
So, now what's your decision? With a Metro Community and Technical College education, you will earn significantly more money. You will never be in a better position to continue your education than now. You can get any kind of help you need to make sure you succeed. The ten Metro Community and Technical colleges have connections to employers to help you find a job in your field after graduation. And, you can transfer to a four-year state university if you choose to continue your education.
For more information about the community or technical college in your neighborhood, call (651) 423-8412, or e-mail at
metro.ct@dctc.mnscu.edu. You will receive a free "Go Places" brochure, listing the colleges and programs of the ten Metro Community and Technical colleges. You just never know where success might lead you.
By Linda Landwehr, Career Information Office
Metro Community & Technical Colleges
1300 East 145
th Street
Rosemount, MN 55069-2999
