22 Jul For Many Grads Like Me, a College Degree Isn’t a Guarantee

“We have always been told that with a bachelor’s degree, we would be able to find success and even uplift our families. But how can we do so when, in today’s job market, that simply isn’t enough?” the author writes. (Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash)

Editor’s note: The author is a 23-year-old college graduate from Richmond who asked that his name be withheld.

Commentary, Anonymous

Growing up, we were always told to “go to college; get an education — it’s the only way to be successful.” But even for those of us who did just that, success is far from guaranteed. For many of us new graduates, finding a job — any job but, especially, a career-starting role — has not been easy.

I graduated in 2024 from UC Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in public policy. I’ve struggled to find a job in my field, even with over five years of administrative experience and three internships in community development and policy advocacy, including one with the city of Richmond. My goal after college was to come back to my community and give back to it, but a stable, secure job that would allow me to do so is still out of reach.

We have always been told that with a bachelor’s degree, we would be able to find success and even uplift our families. But how can we do so when, in today’s job market, that simply isn’t enough?

I grew up in poverty, and I saw education as my way out. I believed that if I stayed focused, got good grades, worked hard, and followed the right path, I would be able to build a better life for myself and help my family. In high school, I joined extracurricular activities, I started working at 15, and I took every opportunity that came my way. I interned with local nonprofits in Richmond and even had the opportunity to work alongside elected officials. I did everything I was told I was supposed to do, and still, I’ve struggled to find the kind of job that reflects all of that effort.

Both I and others around me are left questioning whether we should settle for a job that has nothing to do with the degrees we worked so hard to earn, maybe one we could have gotten without a degree, try to pursue even higher education, or to just keep looking. Even furthering our education, success is not promised; it is not guaranteed that a master’s degree will make us more qualified for the job if there is not enough “relevant experience” on our resumes.

We need to be honest with young people. We should show students that even with an education, there could still be struggle because that is the harsh reality that many of us will have to face.

Opening our children’s eyes to more options outside of going to a university like medical programs and trades is not something that we should discourage them from simply because they do not want to pursue a traditional higher education. Careers like becoming a medical assistant, dental assistant, electrician or welder are all valuable and in-demand paths that don’t require a four-year degree. These are careers that offer job security, benefits and opportunities for growth — things many of us are still searching for even after college. We need to normalize these choices just as much as we promote college. 

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If teens don’t want to pursue the traditional higher education, we shouldn’t discourage them. Instead, we ought to be opening their eyes to options outside of college like medical programs and trades. And for the students who do want to go to college, we should provide information on what jobs certain degrees and majors are tailored to would be amazing. Giving them guidance on what these majors really train them on and possibly even which ones can provide them with the most job security in the long run help them figure out for themselves what might actually work for them. If I had been given more information about what fields like computer science or human resources could lead to, I might have made a different decision. It’s not that I regret studying public policy, but it’s hard not to wonder if I would be in a better position today with a different degree.

If we want our children to succeed, we have to set them up for success. That means being honest with them about not only how college can help them but also the demands of college and how to navigate the realities of today’s workforce. So many of our college graduates went through four years of schooling — often away from their homes, their families and their communities, just to come back and not be able to use their education to work in the geographic or occupational area they want to be in.

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That is why I am calling on schools, educators and parents to do more. We need high school programs that go beyond helping us to fill out college applications. Students deserve college and career readiness programs that take them on field trips that let them actually see the variety of careers that are possible. Take them to college campuses, trade schools, local nonprofits, culinary jobs and professional offices. Exposure like this would give young people a chance to imagine themselves in different futures, not just the one path we have always told them to follow.

Colleges also need to be more transparent about the job outcomes of their degrees. If certain majors consistently lead to better employment opportunities, that information should be shared. And based on those outcomes, colleges should offer more hands-on classes, internships, and real-world experiences so students graduate not just with a degree but also with experience that makes them competitive in the job market.

We cannot keep telling students that college equals success and leaving it at that. It is time to give them real tools, real information and real options to thrive in today’s economy and get them where they want to be.