For a long time, the American workforce has been becoming increasingly specialized, which means that an increasing amount of education and preparation is required for many careers. A high school diploma was once a guarantee of a person's ability to handle most job skills, but this is no longer the case. In many instances, a person with only a high school diploma faces difficulties finding well-paying positions with job security. A few years of college, and preferably a degree, are now almost necessary qualifications.
长时间以来，美国劳动力日趋专业化，这就意味着大量岗位越来越需要有教育背景的职工。高中学历曾一度是个人工作能力的保证书，但现在却不再起效。很多例子说明，一个高中文化的人在找高薪，有保障的工作时会困难重重。几年的大学教育和高程度的学历已成为目前必要的就业资格。
The Facts
事实
As the cost of a college education goes up, many begin to question whether the expense is worth the reward. Simply examining the financial differential between those with a college degree and those without one reveals that the more educated a person is, the more, on average, he will earn in his lifetime. It is estimated that people with a college degree earn almost twice as much as those with only a high school diploma; even those with only a few years of college or an associate's degree earn close to a quarter more. Though the burden of tuition and loans can seem heavy, the cost of remaining uneducated is obvious.
随着大学教育成本增加，很多人开始质疑其花费是否能得到相应的回报。简单地衡量一下有大学学历和没有该学历的人群间的经济差异，就能得知一个人受教育程度越高，他一生中平均挣的钱就越多。经评估，拥有大学学历的人群所挣收入几乎是仅持高中文凭的人群的两倍；甚至那些仅上过短暂大学的人或者准学士也会多挣将近四分之一。虽然学费和贷款负担看似沉重，但不受教育的代价甚是明显。
Significance
意义
Obtaining a college degree makes more than just a financial difference for the individual; rather, it can make the difference for an entire family. Those with more education are generally qualified for jobs with better benefits, including health, life, and retirement. Their jobs are, in general, more secure. Parents who make more money are also better able to provide for their children's education, increasing the likelihood that they will go to college and get good jobs. Getting a college education is one of the best ways to escape the cycle of poverty, for both yourself and your descendants.
获取大学学历不仅能改善个人经济状况；更多的是，它能对整个家庭做出贡献。那些受过更高教育的人通常能胜任更高福利的工作，包括健康、生活以及退休都会得到更好的照顾。通常来讲，他们的工作更有保障。收入更高的父母更有能力给孩子提供教育，增加孩子上大学并觅得好工作的可能性。无论对你还是你的后代，获取大学学历都是脱离贫困圈最好的方法之一。

Effects
效果
Though completing a college degree while you are young increases your earning potential, this does not mean that only current students can profit. Those with secure positions can earn raises and better benefits from going back to school. Those afraid of losing their jobs can acquire certification in another field, often while still working part or even full-time. For motivated students, a bachelor's degree takes about 4 years; 4 years is rarely enough time to be promoted based solely on experience. This disparity underlines the motivation behind and the importance of earning a college degree.
虽然趁着年轻完成大学学历能够提升你的收入潜力，但并不意味着只有在读生才能获此益处。那些有稳定职位的人能通过重返校园提高收入，获得更大的利益。害怕丢掉工作的人可以在另一领域获得资格证书，无论他们在兼职甚至是全职工作时都行。对于积极的学生来讲，获得学士学位需要约4年的时间；但仅仅凭借经验来升职，4年是不够的。这个差距强调了背后的学习动力和取得大学学历的重要性。
Considerations
考量
When deciding whether to go back to school, one of the major factors in the decision should be job security. Today, many jobs are being outsourced to other countries for cheaper labor, or are being negated through technological improvements like robots. People without a college degree are likely to do manual labor, factory work and other jobs that are becoming increasingly less secure. Therefore, it is important to realize that while a certain unskilled job might be in high demand now, this is not likely to always be the case. Those with college degrees experience more job security because they fill positions for which relatively few people are qualified.
当决定是否重返校园时，最主要的考量因素之一就是工作保障。如今，许多工作被外包给其他国家的廉价劳动力，或者被类似于机器人的先进技术所淘汰。没有大学学历的人便可能会去做手工活，当工人或从事其他越来越没保障的工作。因此，一定要意识到如此无技术含量的工作都已经炙手可热了，粗活并非是永远的解决之道。那些有大学学历的人更能得到工作保障，是因为能够胜任他们所处职位的人相对较少。
Misconceptions
误解
Although a college degree is almost always worth the expense, it can be extremely costly, and, if you have trouble finding a job after graduation it can become a burden. Often people assume that simply getting a degree will solve all financial problems; the reality is that in order to profit the most from education, a lot of planning is in order. Before going into debt for a degree, make sure you know how much money you stand to make after you complete it. It is important not to waste money you do not have on college classes you are not prepared for or will not take seriously. However, if you think of college as an investment for dedicated individuals, its true value becomes clear.
尽管大学学历通常物有所值，但它也可能极其昂贵，并且，如果你在毕业后难找工作，它还会成为你的负担。人们常常设想只要取得了学历就能解决所有经济问题；事实上，要想从教育中获得最大利润，需要有条不紊额计划。在为学历负债之前，确定你知道自己毕业后能亲自挣多少钱。千万不要把钱浪费在你未准备好或不愿认真学习的课堂上。但是，如果你认为大学是个人热忱的投资，那它真正的价值就会体现出来。