What is educational investment? (article) | Khan Academy (2024)

Investing isn't just about putting money into things like stocks or bonds. You can also invest in yourself by learning new skills and getting a better education, which can help you succeed in many ways.

Educational investment

Educational investment is all about how much time, money, and effort you and your family put into getting a higher education. People choose to invest in education for different reasons, like personal growth, getting a better job, moving up in the world, or helping their community. Everyone has different goals, so what's important to one person might not be the same for someone else.

The good and the not-so-good

Investing in education can be a great thing because it can lead to more money, better skills, and more opportunities. But, it can also come with some downsides, like expensive tuition, student loans, and missing out on doing other things. You have to weigh the good and the bad to figure out if investing in education is the right choice for you.

Human capital

Human capital is all about your skills, knowledge, and how productive you can be. Education and training can help you build up your human capital, so you're more valuable in the job market. The more education you have, the more skills you can offer to employers, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher pay.

Earnings and education

In general, people in the U.S. earn more money if they have higher levels of education, as shown by the table below:

A bar graph shows the horizontal axis labeled Median weekly earnings in dollars and the vertical axis that lists levels of education, starting at Less than high school to Doctoral degree. The horizontal axis is labeled, from left to right: 0, 1000, and 2000. The vertical axis is labeled from the bottom of the axis to the top of the axis as follows: Less than high school diploma, High school diploma, Some college, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Professional degree, and Doctoral degree. The bar line for each level of education shows the following: Less than high school diploma extends to 626, High school diploma extends to 809, Some college extends to 899, Associate's degree extends to 963, Bachelor's degree extends to 1334, Master's degree extends to 1574, Professional degree extends to 1924, and Doctoral degree extends to 1909.

Higher education and training usually help people gain more knowledge, skills, and abilities, making them better prepared for good-paying jobs. When people have more education, they often become more competitive when looking for work. However, having more education doesn't always guarantee a person will make more money. Other factors, like where you live, the type of job you have, your experience, and even discrimination, can also affect how much money you make.

The changing world of work

The economy and job market have changed a lot in recent years because of things like globalization (how countries trade with each other), automation (machines doing work), and innovation (coming up with new ideas). These changes have led to a greater need for workers with higher skills and less demand for those with lower skills. This is called a skill-biased technological change or a skill premium.

Different education levels

These changes can have different effects on workers, depending on their education and training. For some, it might mean a higher risk of unemployment (not having a job), underemployment (working less than you'd like or in a job that doesn't use your skills), wage stagnation (not making more money over time), or wage inequality (some people making way more than others).

Jobs that need higher education and training

There are some jobs that are growing fast and need people with higher education and training, like health care, information technology, engineering, and more. There is also a high need for jobs that require skills, and not necessarily a degree. Examples of these jobs are mechanics, carpenters, electricians, wind turbine technicians, welders, and more. These jobs often involve hands-on training, where people learn the necessary skills by doing the work instead of sitting in a classroom.

If you're interested in these areas, investing in education or learning these skills could be a smart move.

Tips for getting ready for a changing economy

To prepare for a changing job market, try things like lifelong learning (always learning new things), exploring different careers, and networking (meeting people who can help you find a job). By being proactive and adaptable, you'll be better prepared for whatever the future has in store.

What is educational investment? (article) | Khan Academy (2024)

FAQs

What is educational investment? (article) | Khan Academy? ›

Educational investment is all about how much time, money, and effort you and your family put into getting a higher education. People choose to invest in education for different reasons, like personal growth, getting a better job, moving up in the world, or helping their community.

What is an educational investment? ›

Educational investment refers to the allocation of resources, such as time and money, towards acquiring knowledge and skills that will lead to future benefits. It involves making strategic decisions to invest in education for personal or societal growth.

Is Khan Academy evidence-based? ›

Schools and teachers integrate Khan Academy into their instructional programs in different ways, and there are observational studies showing correlations between time spent by students using Khan Academy and improved student outcomes.

Does Khan Academy improve grades? ›

Study after study confirms that using Khan Academy leads to better math performance and attitudes. Whether it's higher standardized test scores, better grades, or increased college readiness, the data tells a consistent story.

Is Khan Academy reliable? ›

Given what it offers and the fact that it's entirely free to use, Khan Academy is the best learning site for academic subjects and an Editors' Choice pick. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.

How is education an investment in yourself? ›

By expanding your range of knowledge and skill set, you become a valuable asset to your workplace. This leads to a wider range of rewarding career opportunities. Investing in ourselves through lifelong learning contributes to the greater realization of the potential that's within each of us.

Is education worth the investment? ›

College graduates still enjoy higher earnings than the average U.S. worker. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2022, bachelor's degree holders took home a median wage of $1,432 per week, while workers with just a high school diploma earned only $853. That's a difference of 68%.

What are the disadvantages of Khan Academy? ›

With Khan Academy, students don't experience the nuances and complexities of a classroom environment. They don't receive feedback from the teacher or fellow students, nor do they get any personalized guidance. Another issue with Khan Academy is that it often does not align with the curriculum of a given school.

Can you really learn from Khan Academy? ›

Simply put, the more you use Khan Academy, the more you're likely to learn. We often say spend at least 30 minutes per week on Khan. But what this study means is that if you spend five minutes per week now, spending just a bit more time—say 10 minutes per week—will benefit you.

Can you get a degree from Khan Academy? ›

Khan Academy is not an accredited school and work done on the site does not count towards a diploma or degree program. Khan Academy is best used as a supplement to your normal schooling, whether that is homeschooling or a traditional school.

Does Bill Gates Own Khan Academy? ›

Sal Khan is the founder of Khan Academy, an American non-profit educational organisation that creates online tools to help educate students. Mr Gates posed a light-hearted question which had people in splits.

Is there a better site than Khan Academy? ›

Coursera. Coursera is a renowned learning platform that offers various courses in both technical, management, and other fields. One can use this to enhance its skills or learn new courses. It is a best Khan Academy alternatives for those who are searching for more professional level courses.

Is Khan Academy like the real SAT? ›

Even better, these were reviewed by College Board writers to be accurate. They describe: The College Board works closely with Khan Academy staff at all stages of content creation to ensure that the test questions you see on the Khan Academy website are the same types of questions you will see on the actual SAT.

What does it mean to say that education is a good investment? ›

Education investment is when people and their families put time, money, and hard work into going to college or learning more after high school. This investment can lead to better job opportunities and a brighter future for the person.

What is investment in financial education? ›

An investment is a payment made to acquire the securities of other entities, with the objective of earning a return. Examples are bonds, common stock, and preferred stock.

What is investor education? ›

Investor education focuses on issues relevant to the education and information needs of individuals who participate, or are considering participating, in the financial markets. In addition, investor education can also help investors better assess the relevance and suitability of investment advice.

What is an investment for fafsa? ›

Investments include

accounts designated for the student's benefit, (including qualified education benefits, or education savings accounts such as Coverdell savings accounts, 529 college savings plans, and the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition plans).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 5832

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.