Education is the gateway to great things. Your decision to continue your education beyond high school represents a major step toward increasing your lifetime earning potential by broadening your career opportunities and improving your overall quality of life for the future. It will require a commitment of time, money, and energy on your part, but the potential rewards are substantial.
Consider that a high school degree will never again provide a guarantee of a comfortable middle-class life. The rising complexity of most occupations, the increasing reliance on technology in almost all businesses and jobs, and the rapid pace of change will require that more and more of you obtain two-year, four-year, or even more advanced degrees.
Besides, how does an extra million dollars sound? An individual with a four-year college degree will earn one million dollars more in his or her lifetime than the average high school graduate. But Ohio also wins in this equation. A highly educated, highly skilled workforce keeps companies in Ohio and attracts new companies to Ohio. The state also benefits from better-educated citizens who earn more money. Ohio needs its residents to make more than they’re currently earning. The state would have more money in its coffers in the form of additional state income tax revenue, which would mean fewer taxes for Ohio residents.
As you prepare yourself to move beyond high school, you will face many options and choices on how best to equip yourself for the global knowledge- and innovation-based economy of the twenty-first Century, including where to continue your education. I urge you to take a close look at post-secondary institutions throughout the state as you make your college plans. Some of the most respected colleges, universities, and trade and technical schools in the nation are located right here in Ohio, and they may not be in your backyard.
Ohio’s higher education system is large and diverse, with thirteen public university main campuses, twenty-four university regional campuses, one freestanding medical school, twenty-three public community and technical colleges, and sixty-three independent colleges and universities. These institutions can be found in Ohio’s major urban areas, rural areas, and quaint towns that are built around the campuses. Ohio’s public and private colleges and universities currently enroll more than 600,000 students who are seeking advanced skills, certification, and/or associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees.
It’s important to spend some time considering which school fits you best. Different colleges and universities have different missions. If a large research university is your cup of tea, you can gain access to some of the leading researchers and scientists in the world in the Buckeye State. If you prefer a flexible schedule, smaller class sizes, and a technically focused education, then maybe a two-year community/technical college is more up your alley. Or maybe a well-rounded liberal arts education at a small private college that will prepare you well for graduate school is what you seek. No matter which option you choose, all of Ohio’s public and private colleges and universities are adept at creating a “just-for-you,” “just-in-time” education that matches your individual needs. Long gone are the days of a “just-in-case” education where you learn all you need to know for a lifetime by the time you’re twenty. Learning how to learn and developing a passion for lifelong learning are the keys to success today.
The state’s rich tradition of advocating for education dates back to Ohio’s formation from a portion of the Northwest Territory in 1803. Your decision to move on to higher education is an important one, and there will be many choices and challenges facing you in the years to come. One of the first is to consider going to college away from home in another part of the state. Congratulations on your success thus far and good luck in all your future endeavors.
Ohio’s system of higher education is coordinated by the Ohio Board of Regents, a nine-member board created in 1963. The Regents website (www.regents.state.oh.us) features details on many facets of higher education, including a list of links to most of Ohio’s college and university web sites.
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/CD/higher_ed_ohio.htm
