[PurpleLove08]

Ark. Colleges, Universities to Seek Nearly 10 Percent Funding|Channel 7 News

I thought we were getting better with college grads but I guess not. Hopefully in the coming years we'll see the levels go up.
I know I for one will be a college grad in four years time. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, here I come.

[Nomadicus]

I love AR the way it is for what it is. It would be a crying shame to have an over abundance of college grads that might want to change it into another metropolis land of cement and steel. A peaceful & quiet place for those who like such is not by any means a put down IMHO. It's paradise.....and for the record I'm a college grad and my wife is a nurse... I can never put down anyone who is not a college grad. Anyone who works for their bread is A OK in my book regardless of the sheep's skin they may or may not have. From the cotton & rice fields of the delta to the streams of the Ozarks I believe AR to have more to offer than many of those states with a higher level of PHD's. There are somethings education and money can not replace. My 2¢.

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

I love AR the way it is for what it is. It would be a crying shame to have an over abundance of college grads that might want to change it into another metropolis land of cement and steel. A peaceful & quiet place for those who like such is not by any means a put down IMHO. It's paradise..... My 2¢.

Very well said....reps for you as soon as I'm out of rep jail......

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

I love AR the way it is for what it is. It would be a crying shame to have an over abundance of college grads that might want to change it into another metropolis land of cement and steel. A peaceful & quiet place for those who like such is not by any means a put down IMHO. It's paradise.....and for the record I'm a college grad and my wife is a nurse... I can never put down anyone who is not a college grad. Anyone who works for their bread is A OK in my book regardless of the sheep's skin they may or may not have. From the cotton & rice fields of the delta to the streams of the Ozarks I believe AR to have more to offer than many of those states with a higher level of PHD's. There are somethings education and money can not replace. My 2¢.

And why do we all think everyone has to go to be a college grad? Our granddaughters fiance is a high school grad, has a skill, is in his mid 20s and makes great money: she on the other hand graduated from UAR in May, had an outstanding gpa and can't get a job teaching or much of anything. This is not to say she regrets going to college, of course she does not, but it does prove a degree can't buy you a job.
Nita

[left4gradschool]

I moved from AR to IA last year to get my MBA. I liked living in Central AR, but couldn't afford it. I have a BS in Econ and worked at one of the most prestigious firms in the state. However, I couldn't afford to live in AR on my salary. True, cost of living is lower than the rest of the U.S., but salaries are much lower than average. I think this may be changing, but once you factor in school loan repayments, etc., I thought my degree was pretty worthless. The jobs you get with a degree can be done by non-degree holders. I worked at a restaurant in Conway, and 1/3 of the servers had college degrees. The problem with AR, I think, is that you have a lot of people with degrees who do not want to leave central AR. Supply and demand is thrown off.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by left4gradschool

True, cost of living is lower than the rest of the U.S., but salaries are much lower than average.

Just one reason we left LR.
No regrets, though. We've since found our true passion (no degree required), and are working towards that goal. It's not that we couldn't have found it there, or that where we are now has some magical enlightening quality, it was the jolt of new surroundings and a fresh perspective (along with an obscure community college class) that really helped.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by nomadicus

i love ar the way it is for what it is. It would be a crying shame to have an over abundance of college grads that might want to change it into another metropolis land of cement and steel. A peaceful & quiet place for those who like such is not by any means a put down imho. It's paradise.....and for the record i'm a college grad and my wife is a nurse... I can never put down anyone who is not a college grad. Anyone who works for their bread is a ok in my book regardless of the sheep's skin they may or may not have. From the cotton & rice fields of the delta to the streams of the ozarks i believe ar to have more to offer than many of those states with a higher level of phd's. There are somethings education and money can not replace. My 2¢.

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by nmnita

And why do we all think everyone has to go to be a college grad? Our granddaughters fiance is a high school grad, has a skill, is in his mid 20s and makes great money: she on the other hand graduated from UAR in May, had an outstanding gpa and can't get a job teaching or much of anything. This is not to say she regrets going to college, of course she does not, but it does prove a degree can't buy you a job.
Nita

I don't think EVERYONE has to go to college.
There are plenty of people who run successful businesses without a college degree and that's all fine and dandy.
For the state of Arkansas, we rank low in the amount of incomes our citizens bring in and we rank high for poverty levels.
I'm not saying you need money to be happy but more times than not, education is a way to bring your income level up (depending on what field you go into, etc).
I know a degree doesn't always bring a job.

I do think Arkansas however can benefit from more college graduates or at least more skilled workers because it can bring economic development to the state.
I plan on leaving in a few years so I guess it won't matter much to me after I'm gone.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08

I don't think EVERYONE has to go to college.
There are plenty of people who run successful businesses without a college degree and that's all fine and dandy.
For the state of Arkansas, we rank low in the amount of incomes our citizens bring in and we rank high for poverty levels.
I'm not saying you need money to be happy but more times than not, education is a way to bring your income level up (depending on what field you go into, etc).
I know a degree doesn't always bring a job.

I do think Arkansas however can benefit from more college graduates or at least more skilled workers because it can bring economic development to the state.
I plan on leaving in a few years so I guess it won't matter much to me after I'm gone.

these are all questions that seem to have no real answers. Yes, skilled craftsmen are always in demand and help the economy. We can watch what happens when companies like HP come in. I have seen so many states and areas within state change as business changes. Take Austin, TX, it has always been a nice little town with a very popular university. Then, in comes Technology, now it is a major tech center, higher prices for property and everything else, but this isn't bad.

AS for skilled workers, people who own their own businesses,etc, good points. We have daughter and son in law in Florida. He quit school about a year before he would have gotten his degree from Texas Tech. Now owns his own swimming pool repair business in Orlando, we won't even talk about how much money he makes. It was hard getting off the ground, they struggled and gave up a lot for his business. But he has a good head, is a great sales person and very ethical. Things couldn't be better for them.

Good luck to you where ever you end up.

Nita

[Mattway]

Originally Posted by left4gradschool

I moved from AR to IA last year to get my MBA. I liked living in Central AR, but couldn't afford it. I have a BS in Econ and worked at one of the most prestigious firms in the state. However, I couldn't afford to live in AR on my salary. True, cost of living is lower than the rest of the U.S., but salaries are much lower than average. I think this may be changing, but once you factor in school loan repayments, etc., I thought my degree was pretty worthless. The jobs you get with a degree can be done by non-degree holders. I worked at a restaurant in Conway, and 1/3 of the servers had college degrees. The problem with AR, I think, is that you have a lot of people with degrees who do not want to leave central AR. Supply and demand is thrown off.

There's Bentonville...