The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2011, during the midst of an economic recession, Americans who had less than a high school diploma held a 14.1 percent unemployment rate and on average made only $451 per week. The same survey found Americans with a bachelor’s degree had only a 4.9 percent unemployment rate and made on average $1,053 a week. Obtaining a college degree can increase the amount an American earns substantially and can keep them at work during an economic recession.

But these numbers reflect a generation where college was not seen as a necessity and when jobs were plentiful and easy to obtain after graduating high school. Those who chose to gain a degree could work their way through school without an issue.

Now, universities have turned more into corporations than educational institutions, with some concentrating more on the money they earn than their students’ educational experience. And during times of economic trouble, the funding for public universities decreases substantially, forcing many to increase tuition to accommodate professors’ salaries and other costs.

And in doing so, the students face the brunt of the financial blow. The average 2010 MSU graduate left campus with $21,818 in debt, according to the Project on Student Debt. During these difficult economic times, many of these graduates enter the job market with no openings available, leaving them to suffer with the debt they have incurred over the past four years and no means to pay it off.

So, the question remains: Is college a worthy investment for the current generation?

There is little doubt that to be successful today, a college degree is a necessity, but employers now are looking for more than a degree. Internships and involvement in college clubs and programs are what give today’s graduate an edge on not only high school graduates, but college graduates who gained nothing more from college than a piece of paper.

College also is a time for students to figure out what career path they want to pursue, and it allows them to explore many different fields before picking the right one. It gives students the opportunity to surround themselves with people with the same interests and passions, but also with a diverse population of people whom they can learn from.

College can be a worthy investment but it is up to students to pursue internships and job-shadowing experiences and build their résumé during their four years to help them gain an edge on other graduates in the job market.

This generation is one that will bite the bullet, accept the debt necessary to graduate with a meaningful degree and hopefully gain connections to potential employers along the way.