Is An Undergraduate Degree Worth More Than A Technical College Degree?

New data shows undergraduate degree likely worth no more than a technical college degree – Thumbtack Blog

 

Speaking from personal experience..

Speaking from personal experience...

In today's tough economy, my son finished his BS in Microbiology, could not find job in our region in his field, so for a year he delivered office supplies for $9 / hr.

He has now gone back to school -- a technical school -- to complete a 2 year program in Nuclear Medicine Technology........ which holds much more promise for him.

 

Biology and other pure science bachelors degrees are almost worthless in the job market.
My friend has a masters in microbiology and even that degree was basically an entry level credential into a pretty low paying career. After many years he has moved up but kids with a 2 year AS degree could start work immediately in a lab and were better prepared for the work they were doing than someone with the bachelors degree.
There are a few bachelors degrees such as engineering and computer science and information systems that are terminal degrees for many in the field.
If you speak to a recruiter about high paying consulting jobs, they will ask about years of experience, certifications and your job history. Education is never even a topic of discussion.
So yes an undergrad is worthwhile but like the other thread on here "majors matter" majors really do matter.

 

Technical colleges, like ITT Technical Institute, do offer undergraduate degrees too. I think you mean career colleges or trade schools (not all trade schools offer technical degrees/programs - example, fashion designing is not technical). Anyway, the area of one's degree is the deciding factor in getting a job, especially, in this economy. For example, a graduate with HVAC diploma, automotive technician training diploma, or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) from a career/trade school is guaranteed a job more than someone with a BS in something like History, Horticulture, etc. from a university.

 

I think you nailed it when you said "in our region, in his field". If he was living in Boston or southern California, he'd likely have had little issue.

A major consideration for any person when going into a college major needs to be "how mobile am I willing to be". If the answer is "not at all" then a technical program in the area tends to be more aligned to the local career market than any conventional university is going to be.

 

An accelerated one year BS in Nursing (for holders of a BS degree) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) would be better in my opinion. Nuclear Medicine Technology is a nice field but it's too narrow; getting a job with such qualification will be a "hit or miss." Except your son does not like what nurses or PTs do, I think these two fields will remain in demand for a while. A DPT would be the best option because as a terminal degree, he could teach with it, be employed by others including hospitals, and Rehab clinics, or open and run his own PT clinic. I know several PTs who make $300k and up per year running their own clinics. I also know a few PTs who own and operate several clinics - they rack in millions every year.

 

A bunch of grads from the St Augustine DPT program were offered $45k per year as a starting salary. Its not a super lucrative field to be in either.

 

In the Chicago area, the starting salary is about $70k. Which state/city did they offer $45k? Florida? Also, what type of outfit made this offer (Hospitals, Rehab Clinics,)? Some states are just low paying because the cost-of-living is low. The outfit where one is employed also has an impact in pay. Overall, the program is very competitive to get into in Chicago; hence, the high pay for grads (I guess). Overall, I won't dismiss the degree because it still offers great flexibility and high salary possibilities depending on the city and place of employment. Besides, the work is very easy, compared to what nurses do and the liability involved.

 

I agree with this. There have been times when I've wished I was in bio-tech. Many opportunities in this area.

 

IMO, the best ROI you're going to find for a college degree is an A.S. in Nursing, provided you then pass the R.N. exam.

Perhaps it's because Boston has so many world-class hospitals, but R.N.'s are always in demand around here, with starting salaries in the $80k range. Not bad for a degree you can earn at a community college for relative peanuts.

 

This was back in 2002 when my friend graduated. He was offered more than that at a private clinic in small town PA, but he said that many of his friends were offered 45k for nursing home and hospital jobs. I actually don't know if those kids had a DPT or a MPT though since many of them chose not to do the doctorate. The doctorate took about 6-9 more months than the masters if memory serves.

 

No offense, but you're quoting salary figures from 9 years ago!

According to the latest figures (May 2010) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for PTs is $76,310: Physical Therapists.

 

In addition, the BLS has stated that "employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations."

Finally, PT is listed as "bright outlook" career field. Quoting from BLS,

"Every Bright Outlook occupation matches at least one of the following criteria:

Projected to grow much faster than average (employment increase of 20% or more) over the period 2008-2018
Projected to have 100,000 or more job openings over the period 2008-2018"

 

Probably pesos..hehe.

"Is An Undergraduate Degree Worth More Than A Technical College Degree?"
There is a place for technical programs and a place for traditional programs in society. We are comparing apples and oranges. I went to aircraft mechanic school years ago but got a bachelors degree that won't do me any good if I want to wrench on airplanes. I have to have the technical credentials and FAA licenses to perform maintenance but I don't have to have the undergraduate degree. This hypothetical question is nonsensical!