Graduating from high school can leave you with some pretty big decisions to make about your future. And, while there are tons of options out there that you can pursue, a couple of the biggest picks are often college vs military.
Both going to college and joining the military has its advantages, and in general, the right choice will depend on your skills, personality, and financial abilities.
If you need some more solid answers to help you choose between college vs military, however, this guide is for you. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each to help you make the right choice!
Attending College
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 65% of high school graduates head to college after they finish their primary education.
Getting a college degree also means opening the door to further education, such as a doctorate degree or a Master’s degree. Plus, unemployment rates tend to be lower for those with a college education.
In addition to this, attending college often results in a higher earning potential. Those with a bachelor’s degree, or even an associate’s degree, are able to negotiate higher starting salaries than those who only have a high school diploma or a GED.
Finally, attending college can be a good choice because it creates many networking opportunities. College campuses have organizations such as SHRM, the Honors College, fraternities and sororities, and many other groups that are great places for students to network. This can help them land jobs straight out of college.
Despite all these benefits, there are still some downsides to attending college after high school. For one thing, it’s quite an expensive endeavor, which often means taking out student loans. Additionally, even with a degree, there’s no guarantee of getting a good job after graduation.
Pros
- Higher earning potential
- Continued education possibilities
- Access to more jobs
- Networking opportunities
Cons
- Expensive
- Four years spent not working
- No guarantee of getting a job after graduation
Joining the Military
If you’re not sure that college is right for you and you feel that joining the military could be a better pick, good for you! This is another great option for recent high school graduates. Currently, there are over a million active military recruits, although the US military requires far more than that to maintain its ranks.
Joining the military can be a great pick, thanks to the fact that you get world-class training. You’ll learn skills, such as leadership, that you may not gain from a regular college program.
Additionally, joining the military can actually give you access to college funding. Many branches of the military have college funding programs that allow you to pursue a first or second college degree or to pursue a master’s or other continuing education program.
Joining the military also has the advantage that you get to start earning a salary right away. As you move up in the ranks, your salary increases and your earning potential grows.
Despite these benefits, there are a few downsides to joining the military. The military is both physically and mentally demanding, which can make it a tough place for many individuals. Additionally, deployment and relocation mean that you may not have a consistent home in a single location or that you could be separated from family and friends.
Pros
- Guaranteed job right after graduation
- Travel and learning opportunities
- Possibility of paid vacation
- Guaranteed promotions
Cons
- Possibility of deployment and relocation
- Physically and mentally demanding
A Middle Option: ROTC
If you’re not sold on either idea, there’s still a middle option that you can check out: ROTC. ROTC, or Reserve Officer Training Corps, is a college program that is available at nearly 2,000 colleges across the United States.
The ROTC offers a fully paid college education as well as a guaranteed career after college. The trade-off is that after graduates complete their ROTC career, they join the US Military as officers.
There are three different branches of the ROTC, just as there are three different branches of the US military:
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
Each branch conducts its ROTC training program a little differently, and each branch is available at different universities.
Students enrolled in this program will participate both in their normal college programming and classes as well as participate in ROTC extra-curricular activities and ROTC training sessions. Once students graduate, they’ll be fully prepared for a career in their chosen branch of the US military.
Final Thoughts
Both joining the military and going to college are big decisions that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Joining the military gives you job stability and can teach you skills that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to pick up in a four-year degree program. On the other hand, going to college can give you a wider range of career options.
If neither of those choices sounds like it’s for you, you might want to think about joining the ROTC. The ROTC is a program offered at colleges across the United States that gives you the chance to experience both college and military life.
At the end of the day, the choice is up to you. Consider the pros and cons of each, and decide which of these career paths makes the most sense for your situation.