What's the point of studying?

We hear that sentence, which social decay has introduced into our lives, very often from young people in the 16-20 age group.

“What's the point of studying? Am I going to graduate from university just to work at a grocery store!”

But is that really the case?

According to Income Distribution Statistics;

The highest average annual income from a primary job in 2025 belonged to higher education graduates, at 566 thousand 839 TL.

The average income of higher education graduates in 2024 was 309 thousand 721 TL. 

When we go back to 2023, it was 157 thousand 851 TL. 

The average income earned in 2025 by those with a high school education or lower is 290 thousand TL.

For higher education graduates, this income is 566 thousand TL.

The difference between them is 95%.

Let's look at the same ratio for previous years as well.

The average income earned in 2024 by those with a high school education or lower was 168 thousand TL.

For higher education graduates, this income was 240 thousand TL.

The difference between them is 84%.

In 2023, the difference was 76.40%.

The gap has widened almost every year.

In other words, higher education graduates have earned more. And the gap has continued to increase steadily every year. 

Of course, it is not possible to explain a situation with a single indicator.

But we can see how baseless the narrative of “what's the point of studying?” imposed on young people really is.

Let's develop a new narrative for the new year.

Let's tell the truth.

Happy New Year, young people.