By Girl Scouts of Utah

The benefits of college go far beyond a good job. College graduates have increased quality of life, including better self-esteem, advanced skills, resilience, and an overall healthier lifestyle.

Overall, college-educated women are more likely to live longer and happier lives than those who did not attend a higher education institution. In the book, How College Affects Students, the authors summarized hundreds of studies and concluded: “The evidence is also quite clear in suggesting that education attainment has positive net impacts on dimensions of life that, in turn, increase one’s sense of life satisfaction or overall happiness.”

The enhanced quality of life linked with college-educated women contributes to their ability to be more resilient when faced with stressful situations. Educational attainment has also been linked with more extensive social-support networks. These associations are typically positive and can provide comfort and assistance when needed, which can help reduce the effects of stressful circumstances and contribute to good mental health.

Several new initiatives at Girl Scouts of Utah are making the transition from high school to college a bit more comfortable for girls. These include a focus on STEM fields and financial literacy in middle school, which encourages girls to connect with fields they may not otherwise be exposed to. The Girl Scouting mission is to build girls of courage confidence and character and the GRSI has confirmed girls in the program have better grades and a healthier outlook on life than their peers.

Education is an important component of building confidence and character and helping each girl develop into the woman she can become. The development of her mind, talents, and skills in college can contribute to a happier, healthier life.

For source of research cited, click here.