“There is considerable support for the notion that the rate of return on investment in higher education is high enough to warrant the financial burden associated with pursuing a college degree. Though the earnings differential between college and high school graduates varies over time, college graduates, on average, earn more than high school graduates. According to the Census Bureau, over an adult’s working life, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million; associate’s degree holders earn about $1.6 million; and bachelor’s degree holders earn about $2.1 million (Day and Newburger, 2002).

These sizeable differences in lifetime earnings put the costs of college study in realistic perspective. Most students today– about 80 percent of all students–enroll either in public 4-year colleges or in public 2-year colleges. According to the U.S. Department of Education report, Think College Early, a full-time student at a public 4-year college pays an average of $8,655 for in-state tuition, room and board (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2002). A full-time student in a public 2-year college pays an average of $1,359 per year in tuition (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2002).”

source:

http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-3/value.htm

Basically, college grads earn more. So if you’re measuring success by income earned, yes, college is necessary. However, there are lots of successful people who never went to college, but I think college is a valuable experience, for academics as well as social and work applicable values.

college does present more OPPORTUNITIES for success..

but what it really comes down to is happiness

you can be successful with a college degree and still

be unhappy

or there are people who dont go to college but attained THEIR idea of success and are happy

The degree will not guarantee success, but it WILL increase your odds.