Survey: Half of Americans see less value in a 4-year degree

SAVANNAH, Georgia (WSAV) – Is a bachelor’s degree worth the time and money?

Twenty-nine percent of Americans believe college isn’t worth it, and 49 percent say a four-year college degree is less important for a well-paying job today than it was 20 years ago, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

For three hard-working people in the Coastal Empire, college wasn’t for them. Yet they have all the skills they need to do their jobs. Each of them says they get their education while working.

Riley Smith is an apprentice electrician, and although he completed an eight-week apprenticeship for the job, he says he learned the most from the hands-on work.

“It was more of a climbing lab than anything else. I got my commercial license and learned how to climb a mast, and that was it. You learn the bare minimum (in school),” he said. “You basically go straight from high school into the workforce, and you don’t have a four- to six-year gap if you want to learn something … it’s like learning something.”

Callie Beecher tried school before the COVID-19 pandemic, but found she enjoyed hairdressing more, which requires 2,600 hours of training and passing state final exams. She says the job is rewarding for many reasons.

“It’s really easy to set your schedule. I can accept an appointment from anyone I want. This is my workspace. My chair is mine. Whether I want to come to work or go on vacation is a very easy decision for me. But if you don’t come to work, you don’t make any money,” she said.

Jake McGlamery is the owner of J Mac Plumbing and Electrical. It’s a job he loves, partly because of the job security.

“Everyone will use plumbers, electricians and HVAC engineers. It’s not a dying trade. It’s still going to be around,” he said. “We’re overloaded… the market is flooded. Houses are being built in droves. We really need more plumbers and electricians… we really need more workers out there.”

Experts say workers without degrees have access to better-paying jobs that may not have been available to them 10 or 15 years ago.

There is a risk involved in getting into these jobs, but McGlamery believes everyone should try.

“You get called out at night, on weekends and on holidays. That’s just part of it. If I was asked to do it again, I would do it immediately. Start over.”