Postsecondary Degrees

The Value and Purpose of Postsecondary Degrees Students of for-profit colleges are only 11% of America’s higher education population yet they account for 44% of federal student loan defaults because the value of their degree makes them the least desirable to be hired by employers (Harvard Law Review, 2015). This is also a product of aggressive recruiting techniques that target military members by offering a fast, convenient path towards an accredited degree. As it turns out, a degree awarded from a for-profit or “degree mill” university has no more value in the civilian world than a high school diploma and these businesses continue to capitalize on enlisted Sailor’s dreams of furthering their education. Senior Enlisted Leaders (SEL’s) must educate their Sailors about the prerogative of for-profit universities before authorizing a degree plan.
Accredited Degree’s and Navy Advancement
Although an accredited degree makes a Sailor more competitive for advancement, Sailors that are completing online degrees from for-profit institutions are separating from service with the least desirable postsecondary education to employers on their resume, leaving them 20% less likely to even receive a call back from a potential employer then an …show more content…
The author recommends doing away with awarding points towards the E4-E6 promotion cycles for earning a degree and instead incentivizing Sailors enrolled in college with job placement in positions that align with their degree focus, assuming that the degree relates to their Navy rating. SEL’s must have a chop on TA applications and every SEL should qualify as an “Academic Advisor” who is able to mentor and educate young Sailors about the value of a degree from a private, for-profit, or non-profit