My Daughter Will Have No Choice About College

@_girllockin

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SoundTikTok sound · original sound - _girllockin

Why it worked

The video leverages a controversial statement about a daughter's college choice to draw viewers in, then uses compelling data to support the creator's perspective, creating a strong narrative around financial empowerment and parental guidance.

Summary

The creator discusses the financial benefits of higher education, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to show the significant increase in median earnings with each level of education. She argues that while she wouldn't force her daughter to go to college, she would strongly encourage and financially support it due to the long-term financial advantages, stating that her daughter will not have the option to say she can't afford it.

Structure

1Introduction and response to a comment
2Explanation of the creator's stance on college
3Presentation of salary data based on education level
4Comparison of earnings between high school diploma and bachelor's degree
5Discussion of master's and professional degrees
6Creator's personal motivation for encouraging college

On-screen text

My Daughter Will Have No Choice About College The numbers will surprise you What the numbers actually say According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among full-time workers age 25+ in 2025: Education Median weekly earnings Approx. annual High school diploma $996 $50,232 Associate degree $1,135 $59,020 Bachelor's degree $1,578 $82,056 Master's degree $1,876 $97,352 Professional degree $2,294 $119,288 The bachelor's-degree worker's median earnings are about $31,824 more per year than someone with only a high school diploma. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Annual Figures = weekly earnings x 52.)

Original caption

I used to think college wasn’t always worth the cost… until I actually looked at the data. Higher levels of education are associated with higher median earnings, and a bachelor’s degree holder earns about $31,824 more per year than someone with only a high school diploma based on 2025 BLS data. Does that mean everyone needs college? Absolutely not. But if my daughter wants to go to college and I’m financially able to pay for it, why wouldn’t I? She’ll always have a choice about what she does with her life. I just want to make sure money isn’t the reason she can’t choose the path she wants. I’m not building wealth just so she can have more stuff. I’m building wealth so she can have more options. ❤️ #FinancialLiteracy #GenerationalWealth #CollegePlanning #BuildingWealth #PersonalFinance

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Transcript

I'm not gonna lie, you guys, I used to think this "she will have no choice" yes she will, and she's allowed to. I really used to think this way. I really used to feel this way too. Now, this comment was in response to me saying that my daughter does not have an option when it comes to college, which I know is a little drastic and it gets people ruffled up. But hear me out. The reason why I say that my daughter does not have an option when it comes to college, I'm treating it just like she has to go to high school, just like she has to go to middle school. It's because I read the numbers, okay? When she was first born, when I started investing for her, I literally invested in the custodial brokerage account because I said, I'm not forcing her to go to college. What if she doesn't want to go to college? What if she wants to start a business? What if she wants to do that? Until I saw the numbers. So let's discuss the numbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among full-time workers age 25 plus, if you have a high school diploma, your average income is about $50,232 a year. For an associate degree, the average income is about $59,020 a year. A bachelor's degree, it's $82,056 on average, okay? It's a stark difference. You mean to tell me that somebody who went and got a four-year degree compared to someone who did not, that there is a $32,000 difference on average, okay? And this is on average. So of course, there's gonna be some people who make less, they're gonna be some people who make more. Like me, I make more than $82,000 a year with my bachelor's degree. But why would I not motivate and push my daughter for success? Why would I not give her the option to potentially struggle? I'm not doing that. Especially if I'm saying that I'm going to pay for it. Keep going though. So a master's degree on average is $95,600 and $80 a year. And if you have any other professional degree on average, you make $119,280 a year. So why would I make that option? Why would I make that optional? Because what? Mommy's paying for it. I'm not playing. Because what? Mommy's paying for it. I'm not playing. Can I physically force my daughter to go to college? No, I can't. But I'm definitely gonna motivate her and one thing she'll never be able to say is that she can't go to college because she can't afford it.