The 18-Year-Old Dilemma: Continue College or Start Working?

You’re 18, fresh out of high school. All your friends are excitedly talking about which university to attend, which major to pick.

But you hold your application form, and your heart feels heavy.

You know the financial situation at home. Your parents work late every day. Your younger siblings are still in school. Mortgage, utilities, medical bills—every expense feels like another stone weighing on your family.

You want to help.

But is dropping out of the education track to work full-time really the right choice?

Will a college degree actually lead to higher salary? Or is it just four years and millions of tuition wasted?

There’s no standard answer to this question. But before you decide, let’s do the math together.

Let’s Calculate: What Does Four Years of College Really Cost?

University education cost visualization

Most people think the cost of college is just tuition. It’s so much more than that.

Let’s start with the basics.

Tuition:

Public university: ~NT $50, 000 - 70, 000 p er y e a r, N T$ 200,000-280,000 for four years
Private university: ~NT $100, 000 - 150, 000 p er y e a r, N T$ 400,000-600,000 for four years

That’s just tuition. Not including everything else.

Living expenses (based on northern Taiwan):

Rent: NT $8, 000 - 12, 000/ m o n t h, N T$ 100,000-140,000/year
Food: NT $6, 000 - 9, 000/ m o n t h, N T$ 70,000-110,000/year
Transportation, books, miscellaneous: NT $3, 000 - 5, 000/ m o n t h, N T$ 40,000-60,000/year

Add it up: living expenses are roughly NT $210, 000 - 310, 000 p er y e a r, or N T$ 840,000-1,240,000 over four years.

Total cost for four years:

Public university + off-campus housing: ~NT$1,040,000-1,520,000
Private university + off-campus housing: ~NT$1,240,000-1,840,000

According to a 2026 United Daily News report, a college student in Taipei spends about NT$1.2 to 1.5 million over four years.

But that’s still not everything.

You also need to calculate opportunity cost—what you could earn if you worked instead of going to college for those four years.

According to the Ministry of Labor’s 2025 entry-level salary statistics, the average starting salary for high school graduates is about NT$31,000 per month.

Four years, 48 months: 31,000 × 48 = NT$1,488,000.

So the “real cost” of college is:

Direct expenses (tuition + living): ~NT$1.2-1.5 million
Opportunity cost (lost wages): ~NT$1.49 million
Total: ~NT$2.69-2.99 million

Nearly 3 million NT dollars.

That’s a significant investment. Before you decide, you deserve to know if it’s worth it.

The Degree Myth: Is a Diploma Worth the Price?

Balance scale comparing diploma and money

People will tell you: “College is the path to success” or “A degree is your ticket in.”

But let’s look at the data. How much is this ticket actually worth?

According to 2025 Ministry of Labor statistics:

High school graduate starting salary: ~NT$31,000/month
University graduate starting salary: ~NT$36,000/month
Master’s graduate starting salary: ~NT$53,000/month

The salary gap between university and high school graduates is about NT$5,000 per month.

That’s NT$60,000 per year.

If the total cost of four years of college is NT$3 million, how many years does it take to “earn back” that investment?

3,000,000 ÷ 60,000 = 50 years.

Of course, this is a simplified calculation. In reality, the salary gap tends to widen as you gain more experience.

According to DGBAS data, the median salary for university graduates is around NT $42, 000, w hi l e f or hi g h sc h oo l g r a d u a t es i t^{'} s ab o u tN T$ 32,000-35,000—a gap of roughly NT$7,000-10,000.

Even at NT $10, 000 p er m o n t h d i f f er e n ce, t ha t^{'} s N T$ 120,000 per year. It still takes 25 years to recoup NT$3 million.

But here’s the key: these are averages.

If you attend a top university in a high-demand field (medicine, electrical engineering, computer science), your starting salary could be NT $50, 000, N T$ 60,000, or even higher. The payback is much faster.

But if you choose an obscure major, graduate and can’t find relevant work, and end up doing the same jobs as high school graduates for similar pay… those four years and millions of dollars start to feel like a waste.

Another number worth noting: youth unemployment rate.

According to Ministry of Labor statistics, Taiwan’s overall unemployment rate was 3.4% in 2024, but for youth aged 15-29 it reached 7.9%. For the 20-24 age group specifically, it’s as high as 11.6%.

That means more than 1 in 10 young people can’t find work.

A college diploma is no guarantee of employment.

The Third Path: It’s Not Black and White

Multiple life paths diverging like roads

When facing this choice, many people feel there are only two options: A. Go to university (the “socially correct” choice) B. Work immediately (the “practical” choice)

But life isn’t a multiple-choice question with only two answers.

There are many third paths you can take.

Option 1: Work-Study + Student Loans

If your grades are decent, you want to attend university, and the financial pressure isn’t completely overwhelming, consider this option.

Student loans:

Household income under NT$1.2 million: interest-free during enrollment
Household income NT$1.2-1.48 million: conditionally interest-free
Repayment starts after graduation, interest rate around 1.x%, much cheaper than consumer credit

Part-time income:

Minimum wage in 2026 is NT$196/hour
Working 20 hours/week earns about NT$15,000-16,000/month
Can cover part of living expenses

But be careful: don’t let work affect your studies. If you fail classes or delay graduation because of working, it defeats the purpose.

Option 2: Vocational Training + Certification Path

This is a path many overlook, but it offers excellent return on investment.

The Ministry of Labor offers many free vocational training programs, such as:

Industry-Academia-Training Cooperation: up to 1 year of technical training with job placement after completion
Industry New Talent Program: training in emerging fields with bonus incentives

Instead of spending four years on a major you’re not sure will lead to a job, why not spend a few months to a year learning a skill with real market demand?

Popular certification options:

Computer Software Application Technician
Accounting Technician
Interior Design Technician
Occupational Safety and Health Manager
AI-related certifications (iPAS, etc.)

For many technical jobs, having certification + practical experience is more valuable than a university degree.

The Ministry of Labor also offers “Youth Technical Certification and Stable Employment Incentives”—you can actually get paid for earning certifications.

Option 3: Work First, Save Money, Then Go Back to School

This is another very practical option.

Work for 2-3 years first, save some money, figure out what you’re actually interested in and good at, then decide whether to go back to school.

Benefits:

Financial foundation, less pressure
You know what you want, won’t blindly pick a major
Work experience helps you focus on what matters in school

Many people graduate high school with no idea what they want to do. They randomly pick a major, later discover they have no interest in it, and drift through four years.

Instead of that, why not work for a few years, figure things out, and then come back?

Taiwan’s university system is becoming increasingly friendly to “non-traditional students,” with many options for evening programs and continuing education.

Financial Strategy at 18: Things to Do No Matter Which Path You Choose

Financial growth metaphor with coin tree

Whether you choose education or employment, there are things you should start doing at age 18.

These habits will determine your financial situation 10 years from now.

1. Build a Savings Habit—Save at Least 20-30%

People say, “I earn so little, how can I save money?”

But the point isn’t the amount—it’s the habit.

Even if you only earn NT $30, 000 p er m o n t h, f or cey o u r se l f t os a v e N T$ 6,000 (20%). That’s NT$72,000 in a year.

Try this simple budgeting method:

50% necessary expenses (rent, food, transportation)
30% savings and investments
20% flexible spending

It might be hard at first, but force yourself for a few months and you’ll adapt.

2. Build an Emergency Fund First

Before you start investing, save 3-6 months of living expenses as an emergency fund.

This is your safety net—for when you lose your job, get sick, or have family emergencies.

Investing without an emergency fund is like driving cross-country without a spare tire. High risk.

3. Invest in Yourself—Highest ROI There Is

For an 18-year-old, the investment with the highest return is always investing in yourself.

Learning a skill, earning a certification, developing a side hustle—these things offer far better returns than buying stocks or funds.

Suppose you spend NT $30, 000 l e a r nin g p r o g r ammin g, an d l a t er g e t aj o b t ha tp a y s N T$ 5,000 more per month because of that skill. That’s NT$60,000 more per year—a 200% return on investment.

What investment gives you that?

4. Start Investing Small, Experience Compound Interest

You don’t need to be rich to start investing.

NT $1, 000 or N T$ 2,000 per month in a regular investment plan for 0050 or S&P 500 ETF—you can start right there.

The point isn’t how much you make—it’s building the investment habit early and understanding how compound interest works.

Suppose you start at age 18, investing NT$3,000 per month with an 8% annual return:

By age 28: ~NT$550,000
By age 38: ~NT$1,780,000
By age 48: ~NT$4,470,000
By age 58: ~NT$10,010,000

That’s the power of compound interest. The earlier you start, the more dramatic the effect.

5. Things You Absolutely Must Avoid

Finally, there are things young people should never touch:

Credit card revolving interest (15%+ APR, a black hole for money)
Cash cards, small consumer loans (they only dig you deeper)
Loan sharks, predatory lenders (hard to escape once you’re in)
Crypto leverage, contract trading (too many young people have lost their savings)

At 18, you can’t afford to lose.

Steady accumulation matters more than anything.

Final Thoughts

Back to the original question: should you continue your education, or go to work?

Honestly, there’s no standard answer.

Everyone’s situation is different. Your grades, your major, your family’s financial situation, your personality and interests—all of these affect the decision.

But I can tell you a few things:

First, this isn’t a lifelong decision.

The choice you make at 18 won’t define your entire life. If you choose work now, you can always go back to school later. If you choose university now and discover you don’t like it, you can transfer, take a leave of absence, or retake the entrance exam.

Life is long. One application form doesn’t determine everything.

Second, no matter which path you take, continuous learning is what matters.

In this era, a college diploma offers less and less guarantee, but the value of “learning ability” keeps growing.

Wherever you are, keep reading, stay curious, and keep improving your skills. You won’t be left behind.

Third, be honest about your situation.

Don’t go to university just because “all my friends are going.” Don’t drop out just because “I want to make money fast.”

Calm down, do the math, figure out what you want, then decide.

And then, take responsibility for your decision.

At 18, you’re already an adult.

This is your first truly major life decision.

Whichever path you choose, I wish you the best of luck.

Disclaimer: This article is for knowledge sharing and life advice reference only. It does not constitute any investment or financial advice. Everyone’s financial situation and life goals are different. Please make decisions that suit your own circumstances. If needed, consider consulting a professional financial advisor or career counselor.