If Students Stay in School, Will They Live Longer?

No matter where you are in this world, it is a fact that a student who has received more education than their previous generation is more likely to live longer, be more informed, and have better job opportunities. In OECD countries, someone who has finished high school education is more likely to live longer than someone who does not finish the rest of their high school or college education. In addition to a longer life, those who complete their high school education are more likely to vote in local and national elections. Those who have finished their high school and college education are more likely to have alternative employment opportunities when times are tough.

What do the studies suggest?

These are just a few of the many social benefits that education can bring to the individual. When many individuals are educated, that education can change the course of the transformation of a nation. There are some countries whose population will see a dramatic rise in benefits when a major portion of the population finishes their education. For example, Czech Republic found that someone who has completed their tertiary education will live up to 17 years longer than an equally aged man who did not complete their high school education. That is an astounding difference. 17 years is nearly an entire generation. So not only will the Czech Republic have a population who has more education in their previous generations, they will actually live one generation longer.

Can Education Transform a Nation?

Education has an even bigger role to play in the interests of the nation. A population who is educated are more likely to get involved in matters of national interest, are more likely to volunteer their time helping charities, and are also likely to trust their neighbor and have faith in businesses. In OECD countries, the generation of 25 to 34-year-olds has a 27% rise in volunteering, engaging in politics, and trusting their neighbor than previous generations.

Will Students Make More Money?

One of the key aspects of getting higher education for the average individual is higher wages. For their skills and knowledge, they can demand more money from their employers. The more college-educated people there are in a nation, the more likely they are to hold a competitive advantage over countries that do not have the same amount of college-educated people. This competitive advantage can help a country become an industry leader (Radcliffe, 2022). Higher-income is one of the most positive aspects of getting higher education. The salary of a college-educated person will not only flow into the bank account. It will also flow into the local community. One study found that over the entire lifetime of a college graduate, they will add $278,000 more worth of value to a local economy.

Over My Lifetime will it change?

Over the lifetime of a college-educated person, they will learn 2.3 million dollars on average. This is 84% more money than a high-school graduate learned throughout their entire lifetime (College Possible, 2018). So not only is completing high school called education important for the average individual, but it can also raise up an entire generation and improve the outcome of a nation. Note: All of this sounds great, but this does not take into consideration race, gender, ethnicity, access, and equality which is prevalent in the US. Even with these rates, there is a gap in access to opportunities and wage disparities.

 References

Radcliffe, B. (2022, January 29). How education and training affect the economy. Investopedia. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/education-training-advantages.asp

The economic impact of college degrees. College Possible. (2018, August 24). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://collegepossible.org/news/the-economic-impact-of-college-degrees/

https://www.health.org.uk/infographics/how-do-our-education-and-skills-influence-our-health