College Cost Benefit Analysis

College tuition has been an increasingly intense topic of discussion over the years. The costs of higher education have been debated by many people, and it has been discussed as to whether costs are becoming too high for students to afford. College has become more and more popular, and now as many as 20 million students attend universities reported by The National Center for Education Statistics (1). The value of a college degree is immense, but college tuition is becoming too expensive for students to afford, and furthering the problem are students’ lack of knowledge on how to pay and earn money towards their college degree.

The U.S. is home to some of the greatest colleges and universities in the world. But with an overwhelming 1.3 million students graduating with an average student loan debt of $29,000 each and with youth unemployment elevated, the question of whether or not college tuition is worth the money arises (The Institute for College Access & Success, 2013). Higher education faces intimidating challenges: continually rising costs, access and completion problems, constant changing of technology, and responsibility pressures from state and federal officials. But no challenge is more intimidating than the fundamental question that many Americans face to ask themselves, "Is college worth the cost?" As a result of the economic turn down, many students who graduate are not finding well-paying jobs, either within their field of study or not.

College is a dream that almost every American wants to come true, however, with the extreme rise in the costs of tuition it is a dream that has quickly turned into a nightmare. “Tuition at a private university is now roughly three times as expensive as it was in 1974, costing an average of $31,000 a year; public tuition, at $9,000, has risen nearly four times,” (Davidson). “For the average American household that doesn 't receive a lot of financial aid, higher education is simply out of reach,” (Davidson). That is why many students have begun questioning the worth of a college degree and if the amount of debt that is received upon exiting college is all for the better. And considering that costs have risen much faster than the rate of inflation, many are starting to believe that college just isn 't necessary any more. However, according to White, economically, the answer would still be a yes. “While unemployment rates for new grads and experienced workers alike have fluctuated throughout the recession and recovery, the earnings premium that college-and advanced-degree holders enjoy over their peers who didn 't attend college has remained relatively stable, and in some instances, grown, according to the report that was released this week,” (White). A study was shown that many college grads are able to get earnings that are significantly higher than those who did not get enough education or only hold a high school diploma (White). Even

Financial barriers for higher education has climbed over the last ten years. Today, over 40 million Americans have student loans. Of these 40 million, most individuals are struggling to maintain payments on the loans (Hillary for America, 2016). Since 2004, the tuition for in-state colleges and universities has risen by about 42 percent and with the recent Great Recession, states have continued to decrease spending on higher education at a rapid rate (Hillary for America, 2016). It is estimated that states are only contributing around $1,805 per student, which is estimated to be 20 percent less than what was contributed only seven years’ prior. The federal government in

The towering prices of college tuition is an avid cause for the overwhelming ignorance in America. U.S. leaders once hoped that 60 percent of the U.S. population would have college degrees by 2025. Today in 2017, it is closer to 30 percent. Not only do tuition costs dig deep financial holes in a student’s life, the pressure of making the investment causes unnecessary, avoidable stress. Students around the world flourish without the financial commitment. Students in America- the land of the “free”- need the same financial freedoms and opportunities to thrive and contribute to mankind in the changing world of today.

The topic of paying for college has been a widely debated issue for students. Some people believe college is too expensive for teens who have just began to wander around the adult world, while others feel college would be taken for granted if the student doesn’t make an effort for their education. Higher education may include longer years of studying, loans and debt. This is what makes society feel that college should be free. However, it must be acknowledged that free college really isn’t free and misunderstanding this concept would be an economic mistake. Although it’s understood that college comes with a great price, eliminating the cost for higher education would increase taxes, diminish the value of a degree and may cause students to not

The American Dream teaches us that if we work hard, earn a good living, and do our best that we will be able to live comfortably and happily with the fruits of our labors. In today’s society to achieve the American dream, one must first obtain a higher education. In order to do that though many students are taking out student loans and putting themselves further in debt. Having an education has now become highly sought after, yet increasingly harder to get due to the high cost of attendance. According to the Wall Street Journal , “Average published tuition and fees at private, nonprofit four-year colleges and universities increased 14% between 2008-09 and 2013-14 beyond the rate of inflation,

Evidence shows that education is vital to increasing students’ chances of financial stability in the future; however, because of the cost of college, it is out of reach for many, or leaves students in debt after graduation; threatening countless young adults’ futures and continuing to marginalize low-income families. According to the US Department of Education, an approximate two-thirds of jobs in 2020 will require a post-secondary education (“College Affordability”). As more and more jobs require a college education, the range of jobs prospective high school graduates can enter without a college education is severely limited. In addition, there is almost always a wage gap between those who have a college education and those who do not, meaning that those who are employed in jobs without a bachelor’s or higher degree rarely earn as much (“College Affordability”). For an individual seeking a larger range of stable jobs in the future, attending college is usually necessary. However, the price of college often puts it out of reach for many students, even in middle-class families. US Census Bureau data shows that the median income of US families in 2014 was $53,657 (meaning half the population earned below this amount and half above) — but according to national educational statistics, the average cost of attending university in California, including room and board and typical fees, was $21,029 in 2013 (“Regions by Mean”; “Average Undergraduate Tuition”). For

The unattainable “American Dream” seems to be becoming even more of a fantasy as the rising costs of collegiate education deter many from pursuing higher education. Student loan debt is now creeping to an average of $30,000 and there appears to be no end to this rising number. Lower income families find themselves unable to send their children to college without a major financial impact. These kids who are hoping to get a degree of their own, to help support themselves and those they love, struggle to make ends meet as they pay off their loans. College expenses are far too expensive for students because scholarships lag behind tuition fees, the middle class struggles to receive the financial aid it needs, and universities in general believe that they can raise the price of tuition due to the increasing amount of government aid to education

In today’s society, it is becoming increasingly difficult for those without access to quality higher education to obtain a well-paying job, due to the competitiveness of the job market. A census conducted by The United States Census Bureau reflects that students with a high school degree make an average of $21,569 a year, compared to the $79,997 a year people with a professional degree earn (Julian). Factors such as a lack of state funding has led to increases in tuition and a decrease in teachers and courses offered in the past few years, which, in turn, has made public colleges and universities of high caliber harder to attend-- especially for students from low-income families (College Rank). The federal government should increase spending

The cost of college is rising relative to the income of American families. This is especially concerning for the students who have an average of $30,000 worth of debt or more. Rising college costs is a complicated subject, but here are three reasons why it is overly expensive: First, students demand more from their colleges, meaning that students expect more than an education like entertainment, recreation, and counseling. Secondly, there are more students who are willing to pay for higher education compared to the 60’s, and since more people are willing to pay, the colleges raise the prices without affecting enrollment numbers. Lastly, the administrative heads of colleges have been much more generous about paying themselves, at about a 250%

In the United States, a college degree comes with the promise of a bright future, but also the guarantee of an average of $33,000 in debt (Izzo). Many of us have hopes and aspirations to attend prestigious Universities across the country, but perhaps that dream may be more expensive than we envisioned. Costs of a college education in America have skyrocketed since 2005 (Izzo), and have left newly graduated students searching for help. In order to offer a helping hand to those affected by tuition costs, we must first look at the root issue: The high cost of tuition. Lowering tuition will not only save thousands of people from debt, but it will also boost the economy, and keep us competitive with other countries. The cost of attending college

As a student going into my first semester of school, I have already created a plan as to how I can avoid gaining weight. One of the main structures of the plan is to bring a lunch from home. Eating at an MTSU food court provides very few healthy options, such as Subway and Happy Tomato. But not everyone wants an overpriced potato or sandwich every day, and electing another more appealing fast food option can be a very tempting vice for many people looking for a fulfilling meal. While it is possible to eat at these places and maintain a healthy life, choosing to eat here every day can be devastating to a young scholar’s health.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, college education has been available for everyone and anyone who is willing to develop their knowledge regarding a specific professional field. Currently in the United States, the percentage of high school graduates going to college has increased considerably: 68 percent in 2011 compared to 49 percent in 1940 (Menand, 2) and the record high set in 2009 with 70 percent of total high school graduates enrolled in college ("Bureau of Labor Statistics"). Notwithstanding, it has come to the attention of many that the college tuition and fees have been increasing at an accelerated rate. According to The New York Times, college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 (Lewin, 1). This

The increasing cost of higher education in the United States has been a continuing topic for debate in recent decades. American society emphasizes the importance of education after high school, yet the cost of undergraduate and advanced degrees continually rises at a greater rate than inflation. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48% of college-qualified high school graduates from pursuing further education (McKeon, 2004, p. 45). The current system requires the majority of students to accumulate extensive debt with the expectation that they gain lucrative post-graduate employment to repay their loans.