Tuition. Books. Supplies. Parking. Housing. Every year of college is expensive.
But on average, if you take 15 credits each semester, you'll have an associate degree in 2 years or a bachelor's degree in 4. And then, instead of letting the expenses of college drag on for years, you'll be out in the world using your degree to get a better job and to earn more money.
Utahns with degrees earn more money than people who don't have degrees.
On average, you'll earn $18,000 more per year with a bachelor's degree, and $8,000 more per year with an associate degree. And the faster you finish college, the faster you will be on your way to making that money. Make sure you finish on time. Take 15 credits every semester.
If you want to get your degree on time, it's important you take the RIGHT courses.
It's also important that you take the right number of courses – 15 credits per semester. Meeting with your academic advisor will ensure that you're doing both. After all, the quicker you get your degree, the quicker you'll be out in the world using it to get a better job and earn more money.
When meeting with your academic advisor, keep the following in mind:
Worried about your grades? Don't be! Studies show that if you're already taking 12-14 credits per semester and you add a class to make it 15, your grades will actually go UP.
Only 29% of students who attend Utah's public colleges and universities get a bachelor's degree in 4 years.
And, only about half finish in 8 years. Students going part-time fare much worse: only 10% of part-time associate degree students finish in 4 years. The hard truth is that many students won't finish at all. Taking 12 credits each semester means graduating in 5 years at best. Taking 15 credits per semester cuts that down to 4. For the first time in history, the current generation of college-age Americans will be less educated than their parents – unless things change quickly. Beat the odds! By 2020, 68% of jobs in Utah will require a career certificate or a college degree, which is another great reason to get out of school and get a job.
The numbers are in your favor to complete college so that you can earn more money over your lifetime. In Utah, a person with a bachelor's degree earns an average of $18,000 per year more than a person with no degree. A person with an associate degree earns $8000 per year more than a person with just a high school diploma.
Taking 15 credits per semester is possible. About half of all Utah freshmen are already taking 12-14 credits. In most cases it's only necessary for you to take one additional class. In fact, at most of Utah's institutions, taking 15 credits costs the same as taking 12. You can get 3 credits each semester for free! Taking 15 credits not only saves money, but also puts you on track to earn your degree and start your career sooner than those who take longer to graduate.
