Is a Degree Really Worth It?

The fear of not finding a job after graduation is overwhelming. Some graduates find jobs, but others find jobs completely out of their field of study. This raises the question, is a college degree really worth it?

Mayra Franco graduated in the Fall of 2020 with a degree in broadcast journalism from Fresno State. Right after graduation, she found a job. “I put out my reel and then I got a few new directors reaching out to me and I decided to take an adventure and I moved to South Bend, Indiana,” said Franco. She is now a multimedia journalist – a photographer, reporter and editor all in one.

Andrew Gong, graduated from Fresno State in the Fall of 2016 with a degree in accounting. Gong did not go into the job force using his degree because one class made him realize that this degree wasn’t for him. But switching majors would have cost him more class time and more money for tuition. Instead, he followed his passion for books. “Right after I graduated I went straight to work so I went straight into buying and reselling books,” said Gong.

Both Gong and Franco agree that a college degree doesn’t guarantee you a job in your field of study. “I think what prepares you is the training,” said Franco. In her case, an internship and Fresno State Focus newscast helped her gain experience.

“They prepared me for this job all those hours that we put in in Fresno State focus and it really taught me those valuable skills and training to be a reporter,” said Franco.