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these are the things I least need from college.
"• Greater popularity
"• More social self-confidence"

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"• Higher rates of participation in civic affairs and community (volunteer) service
• Less likely to be incarcerated"

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you can ask my wife I'm a health nut so this ranks kind of low on my list
"• More likely to have health insurance and better (more comprehensive) health insurance coverage
• Have better dietary habits"

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It's commonly accepted that those who go to college tend to enjoy benefits over those who don't, and the statistics back it up.

College graduates earn an annual average of over $20,000 more than high school graduates, and over the course of their lifetimes, it adds up to over $1 million. Those with associate degrees fare better, too, earning $325,000 more than those who finished just high school.
"Researchers found that earning a college degree before other major life events decreases the likelihood that you'll become obese."
But a recent study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior revealed that the benefits aren't merely financial - young adults who earn a college degree enjoy some surprising health benefits, too.

After analyzing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a survey that followed close to 14,000 people between 11-19 years of age from 1995 to 2008, researchers found that earning a college degree before other major life events decreases the likelihood that you'll become obese.

Getting married before finishing college was linked to a 50% greater probability of becoming obese, and for some, parenthood before college completion doubles the probability of becoming obese.
The Hidden Benefits of a College Education (INFOGRAPHIC)
Other surprising health benefits linked to completing college include:

Longer Lifespan. Those with a bachelor's degree or higher live about 9 years longer than those who don't finish high school.

Better Exercise Habits. More than two-thirds of college graduates are more likely to exercise vigorously at least once a week compared to 40% of high school graduates.

Not Smoking. Only about 8% of bachelor's degree-holders smoke, versus 31% of high school grads/non-graduates.

Healthier Children. Households where parents have a bachelor's degree or higher are less likely to have obese children.

So what's with these differences? A number of factors might play a role.

College is a great place to develop life skills, including how to manage time and solve problems, allowing people to establish lifelong healthy diet and exercise habits. College grads also have better access to healthcare for themselves and their families through their employment, and they tend to have more income to allow for things like childcare and gym memberships. And by earning a degree before marriage and parenthood, they're better prepared to overcome the various challenges that come with these responsibilities.

The growing cost of education and other life circumstances can make it hard to complete your education - only about 40% of college students graduate with at least a 2-year degree.

But if you've been looking for that extra push to get you to the finish line or even just back in the race for your degree, this is some great motivation. Not only will it help you advance your career, it will improve your quality of life!
David H. Rahm, M.D. is the founder and medical director of The Wellness Center, a medical clinic located in Long Beach, CA. Dr. Rahm is also president and medical director of VitaMedica. Dr. Rahm is one of a select group of conventional medical doctors who have education and expertise in functional medicine and nutritional science. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Rahm has published articles in the plastic surgery literature and educated physicians about the importance of good peri-operative nutrition.

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5 Ways Finishing College Benefits Your Health | VitaMedica

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It's commonly accepted that those who go to college tend to enjoy benefits over those who don't, and the statistics back it up. College graduates earn an annual average of over $20,000 more than high school graduates, and over the course of their lifetimes, it adds up to over $1 million.

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"• Greater sense of self-efficacy—the belief that they can influence or control the outcomes of their lives
• Higher levels of psychological well-being and mental health"

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"• Make more effective consumer choices and decisions
• Make wiser long-term investments"

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For just a second, forget about all of the other benefits of college, such as the potential for higher earning power and getting to have four (give or take) years of semi-supervised fun before entering "the real world." For now, just focus on the most basic (yet arguably the most important) benefit of college - the intellectual benefits. Indeed, when it comes down to it, this is why you attend college: to be able to learn more, think deeper, be tested, and find your passion.

Let's break down the intellectual benefits of college:

Learn More. At its most basic, college provides the opportunity to learn. Not only to learn about subjects with which you're already familiar, but also about topics that you've never heard of before, let alone studied. This will enhance your knowledge and increasingly mold you into a well-rounded member of society.

Think Deeper. College coursework will challenge you in ways that your high school classes did not. Your professors will have you thinking in ways you may have never thought before. Even if you studied a particular subject in high school, you'll be going into much more depth and detail in college. In doing so, your ability to read demanding works of literature and grasp complex, abstract concepts will increase - you'll gain the capacity to think deeper.

Be Tested. This doesn't mean the literal act of taking tests (though you'll be doing plenty of that in college). In college, your professors and peers will test your preconceived notions about the world and the way you think about things. In this way, college acts as an aid to reflection, which can help you broaden your horizons and mindset.

Find Your Passion. Perhaps the most important intellectual benefit, college enables you to find your passion. It is an exploratory time for you, in the words of Andrew Delbanco*, to "take stock of [your] talents and passions and begin to sort [your life] in a way that is true to [yourself] and responsible to others." Perhaps you already know what you want to do with your life, but for the majority of students, college provides the opportunity to explore, check out your options and find the thing (or things) that you care about most. College can help you find your purpose. For more on Andrew Delbanco, check out his entitled, "College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be".

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Intellectual Benefits of College - Set to Go: A JED Program

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For just a second, forget about all of the other benefits of college, such as the potential for higher earning power and getting to have four (give or take) years of semi-supervised fun before entering "the real world." For now, just focus on the most basic (yet arguably the most important) benefit of college - [...]

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"2. Higher Quality of Life for Their Children"

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"2. Higher Quality of Life for Their Children"

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My wife is super pregnant and this weighs on my mind daily so its number 2
"• Provide better health care for their children
• Spend more time with their children"

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This is number one in the book and number one in my opinion.

"• Career Versatility and Mobility—college graduates have greater ability to move from one position to another. (College graduates have more job options.)
• Career Advancement—college graduates have greater opportunity to move up to higher-level positions. (College graduates have more opportunities for job promotions.)"