Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1927-04-30
4 COLLEGE EDUCATION WORTH
S150,O0O.OO.

A recent issue of a widely-read
magazine contains an advertisement
asserting that college education is
worth $4,000. However startling
such q statement seems, it is easily
proved. Other statistics have estab
lished the fact that the average
earning capacity Of college grad
uate is $4,000 a year. Only twenty
five years of work at such salary
are necessary to make the seemingly
fabulous sum mentioned above.
The salary Of Negroes, Of course,
by no means averages so high. In.
deed few Negroes at the present
time earn half that amount. But
il is an irrefutable fact that those
comparatively few Negroes whose
salaries do range above $4,000 are
in a large majority college-trained
men. There are. naturally, excep'
tons. We read occasionally Of a
,'self-made" man rising to the pin
Lacle Of success. But, in the first
place, these self-made men are be-
,, coming more and more scarce. And
in the second place they invariably
gather around them men holding a
college degree Finally. large mum
Der of failures in Negro business
have been due to lack Of training in
business administration.
Salaries are, moreover, constantly
increasing One college president
! has apparently definitely stated that
the salary Of a college professor
should be $4,000 as a minimum.
Many executives in our banks and
insurance companies have already
reached this level. Some of our lead.
ing physicians and lawyers oven eX-
coed this amount And, as every one
knows. we have at last a college
president at a salary of $4,000 Il
year.
Although a college education evil
IDENTIFY pays a high return on the
investment cost Of acquiring it, 9TH
er factors besides the monetary re
ward deserve careful consideration.
With such progressive States as
North Carolina and West Virginia
appropriating millions for the ex-
pansion and improvement Of Negro
education, with even the most back
ward States gradually realizing the
necessity for college graduates as
high school teachers, the need for
properly equipped educators Is grow
ing even faster than the supply.
The demand for we'll trained lead
ers is perhaps no more urgent any
where than in the church. One au
thOritv recently stated that of
the $4,000 pulpits occupied in this
country by colored men. only sixty
have pastors with college degree.
Much of the criticism aimed a. our
churches is based on the failure OF
ministry to grow apace with the con
eregation. If the church is to play
the role that it should, its leaders
must be on the same intellectual
plane as the members.
Our two medical schools, Howard
end Meharry, are now so crowded
thai even many college graduates
cannot gain admission. The chance
for an undergraduate is obviously
hopeless.
It is only a question OF time be-
fore our law schools likewise will
require college degree for
admission Many white schools have
already shown the way. In addition,
the stare board examinations are
gradually becoming so rigid that in
n few years it will be futile for the
Ill B. who has not also an A } B.
% even take the examination.
In every avenue Of life, then a
college degree Is becoming the min
imum requirement for success. D.
is this fact that makes the 9Th annual
Go To High School Go To College
Campaign of the Alpha Phi Alpha
Fra. ernity an important event to
Negro Youth, The purpose Of this
campaign, as the name clearly in
tlicates. is to urge Negro boys and
girls % obtain a high school and
college education.
Throughout the country from
Nav 1t the members of this organ
ization. all OF whom are college
men will utilize every means that
modern ingenuity permits in order
to popularize this burning message.
Speeches, newspaper articles, the
t. UlO viii urge ne LSCeSSl'y LUZ
higher education The efforts OF
these college men to inspire Others
tc follow Them deserve the support
Of all educational agencies.
The results of the previous cam
paigns have been very gratifying
But there still remain thousands OF
BOYS and girls. thousands of parents
and many States and cities that YET
need 20 be taught that money IN
vested In education is the very best
insurance policy that the child ant
citizen can purchase. All those WHIT
aid the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
in conveying this message will rem
der service to the individual th'
community. the State and the race
-Rayford w. Logan.