For years, Mike Rowe has been diligently encouraging young people to quit thinking they have to get an expensive college degree and instead try and learn a skill in a much-needed trade.
The popular television star continues to speak out about why getting an expensive college education isn’t always the best choice.
Now, Mike Rowe just gave the perfect name to describe a four-year college diploma.
Rowe calls college diplomas a “receipt”
Earning a four-year college degree has long been considered a smart investment for young people.
However, recent data shows that some Americans are starting to pivot their future goals, looking elsewhere to start their path to a successful career.
TV personality Mike Rowe says that the shift is likely because more people are starting to examine the high costs of a college education more closely.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, two-year community colleges that focus on vocational education saw a substantial 16% increase in enrollment in the fall of 2023.
The host of Dirty Jobs spoke to Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, saying, “People are starting to pay attention,” adding that there should be a reevaluation of the idea that getting a four-year degree is the best option for everyone.
Instead, Rowe said that it is “the most expensive path” and noted that more people are beginning to realize the value of going to a trade school.
“Parents and kids alike are starting to get the message that trade school is an amazing opportunity with just a fraction of the debt – if any at all – and a clear path to something that looks a lot like prosperity,” he said.
During the interview, Varney noted that the price of tuition, room, and board at some colleges today could be as high as $95,000.
Rowe pointed out that this amount often doesn’t even cover the full four years.
“That’s for a year or a semester. That’s not for the diploma – do that times four,” said Rowe.
As the cost of a college education continues to rise, Rowe added that society is starting to view it as a financial burden, saying, “It’s so expensive, that for as long as I can remember we really haven’t talked about it in terms of a purchase. We talked about it in terms of an investment, but people are starting to smell a rat there, too.”
College doesn’t always make a good investment
The TV star continued to discuss the issue of college affordability and said that something is either within a person’s financial means or it isn’t.
Rowe also said the real value of higher education depends on whether there is a real return on investment (ROI) attached to it.
“I think more and more people are starting to look at that diploma on the wall and seeing it for what it actually is, which is a receipt,” he said.
The average annual cost of college in the United States, apart from books, supplies, and living expenses, is approximately $36,436 per student, according to the Education Data Initiative, which is double what it was since the turn of the century.
According to ADP, for four years in a row, the “median annual pay for new construction hires has eclipsed earnings for new hires in both the professional services and information sectors – such as accountants or IT maintenance workers.”
Informed American will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
