College Education Is Not Worth It

While this is often true, it can create problems when a student does not have the money to pay for a quality education. The cost of college has risen an estimated 250-500% over the last 30 years while consumer price index has only increased by 115 percent during the same time frame (White, 2015; Eskow, 2014). The amount of student loan debt is increasing, along with the cost of college. The income of many young people today cannot keep up with the rising costs of college education and housing. Part of the problem with student loan debt begins when students choose to attend a college that exceeds their financial resources and rely on federal student loans as well as private student loans to make up the difference. Eskow found that even public colleges and universities are becoming difficult to pay for without taking out student loans often averaging $30,000 for tuition, room, and board (2014). Since many people do not have enough money to cover college education expenses, they rely on student loans, both federal and private, to fill the gap. Financial advisor Ramsey stated that often the loans students take out pay “for an off-campus standard of living, and no debt was needed to get the degree” (2013). “The Project on Student Debt reported in 2013 over ⅔ graduating seniors were leaving school with student loans” averaging approximately $28,400 (White, 2015). Taking on almost $30,000 in debt before even starting a career can have a significant impact. It can force people to get a job just to pay off the student loans, not based on what they got an education for prepared for or what they studied. This also can cause a setback in future plans, having to delay many adult milestones due to lack of

As you graduate high school you begin to think about whether to go to college or not. A huge number of people believe that college isn’t worth your time or your money. In my opinion, education after high school is absolutely worth your time and money. There are many reasons why you should go to college. Some reasons are, you can earn money and another is that you have a greater chance of getting a good and decent job. In this essay I will discuss the value of college and why it is important.

The rise of college tuition along with room and board have lead many to believe that college isn’t worth the money. This among with the other factors of how getting a job into society is more difficult and that a college degree no longer competitive due to the high abundance of them. On the other side, many others urge the importance of a degree. They bring up how more jobs today require degrees, the return investment, and many other things.

Opponents may argue that pursuing higher education is an investment for the future that will aid in one’s future finances, however, the costs of college, both opportunity and monetary, far outweigh the benefits. Nemko also addresses the counterargument by accentuating that many college graduates serve jobs below the value of their degrees because they pay more through the stories of Jill Plesnarski and Brian Morris.

It has been a heavily debated topic over whether college is worth it or not. In “College’s Value,” college professor Eric Hoover explains his studies of college degrees and concludes that attending college has greater benefits than we expect. Nowadays, when families think of college, they think about the amount of financial burden instead of what they will gain from attending. In this article, Hoover states, “Yet the perceived benefits of attending college go well beyond the dollars” (Hoover 1). He writes how diplomas help receive better and higher paying jobs. Hoover is persuasive by using statistics, interviews with undergraduates and graduates, and acknowledging the opposing views as well as refuting them.

In the U.S. students are encouraged to earn a college degree, but the cost of an education turns many away. “Driven by the allure of a decent salary with a college degree, Americans borrowed to go to school. Outstanding student debt doubled from 2005 to 2010, and by 2012 total student debt in the U.S. economy surpassed $1 trillion” (Mian, Sufi 167). There are plenty of opportunities to obtain funds for college, including one of the most common, student loans. A student loan is defined as “a common way to fund education, specifically college and graduate school, and they provide educational opportunities that you otherwise may not be able to afford” (Barr). Student debt is at an all-time high in America. Over half of all lower income

Families are now aiming low when it comes to college- or are simply not going at all. Money could play a huge part in this decision- after all, the cost of college has skyrocketed over the years, and so has the amount of student loan debt. This is something even Leonhardt admits, stating that, because of this, only about 33 percent of young adults get a four-year college degree today, while another 10 percent receive a two-year degree (Leonhardt). And even though many colleges offer financial aid packages, that money may soon be cut and the cost of college will continue to grow. It is true that, in my personal experience, just because a student is awarded financial aid does not mean they have a golden ticket to University. This leaves many desperate students the only option of taking out as many loans as they think they can handle- often more than they should. Debt is not a new issue for America, but it is still a problem. Although David Autor, an M.I.T. economist, laments: “not sending [young adults] to college would be a disaster”, no one can ignore the rising rates of loan defaults, and some think it

College is where you go to get higher sources of education. Many high school students dream of attending college in order to attain more knowledge, yet so many people fail to realize the cost of college. Attending college, currently, is nearly impossible to do without being in some sort of financial debt or seeking out government help. According to the American Association of University Professors, “two-thirds of American college students graduate with substantial debt, averaging nearly $30,000 (if one includes charge cards) in 2008 and rising.” (AAUP, 2012) Although going to college is beneficial, there is an argument on whether or not going to college is worth the possible debt incurred. The goal

Many families have been left with few options due to the enormous obstacle placed before them. These problems have deterred many aspiring college graduates, some are left too afraid of the price tag associated with higher education to complete their education. And for some even begin it. Good paying careers are the major push for college education however,  "The bar is getting higher for well-paid jobs, with most requiring a college degree..." (Biola and Rodriguez 5-6 ). This leaves America's youth with a decision that should not be as hard to make as it actually is. Is the risk of staggering debt in their future really worth it when they have seen others before them struggle to find good work even with a degree? With all of the talk of high tuition up to the national level many critics have decided to add their two cents into the debate. In "Democrats' loose talk on student loans", the author points out that, "44percent of students at two- and four-year institutions do not borrow at all," (paragraph 2) While this is a factual statement, having 44% of college students not borrowing money is nothing to sneeze at. Despite the fact that the number is smaller than what one would normally expect it does not make the effect of student debt any less important or devastating in some extreme situations.  The author continues by stating, "And of those who do, 59percent borrow less than

Student debt has become a large (and growing) problem. The high levels of student debt have served to perpetuate economic inequality, minimizing the opportunity of higher education. In a speech this year, President Obama called higher education "one of the crown jewels of this country" and said it was "the single most important way to get ahead.” The long term impact of student loans have given students every reason not to want to attend college, including myself. That alone has the potential to harm colleges and universities across the country. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said student debt is one reason that people between the ages of twenty and thirty seem to be living a prolonged adolescence, or living with their parents.

Individuals who say it is not worth going to college would argue that college is a waste of time but can agree that college graduates make more money than non-college graduates. College graduates with a four year degree make more money than a high school graduate. For example, these statistics from an online source explains that “On average, a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earned $30,000 more per year than a high school graduate, or about $500,000 more over a lifetime, as of Apr. 2013. The bachelor’s degree makes a huge difference than a high school diploma. The majority of high school graduates want to work when they graduate high

The combination of inadequately paying work together with great outstanding loans limits college graduates from participating fully in society as adults. For instance, indicators of adulthood and full participation include a stable career, a long term relationship, family, a home, retirement savings, and owning material necessities such as a vehicle. When we take into account all of the burdens that tens of thousands of dollars of student loans, it is apparent that this debt impacts just about every aspect of life for graduates. One study by American Student Assistant (ASA) found that around a quarter of student loan debtors have difficulty buying daily necessities because of student loans, while over half indicated that their debt disallows them to make larger purchases like a car, and three quarters of respondents said that they were putting off savings for retirement because of their loans (Life Delayed… 3). Further, almost half reported that student debt has delayed their decision to start a family (Life Delayed…3). From the normal day to day to the largest and most important aspects of life such as starting a family, student loan debt is oppressively bearing down on graduates.

Have you ever wondered how much some of our nation’s top college presidents earn as compensations? If not, then the CNN documentary Ivory Tower is a good starting point. The continual increase of college tuition and student loans has made headlines in the news recently, mostly because of the alarming amount of student debt in the United States. According to the College Board, in 2010, students graduated from college owing an average of $25,250 in student loans; the highest amount ever. Needless to say that we are way pass this amount as of January 2016. As it stands, student debt is more than $1.2 Trillion dollars, higher than both credit card debt and auto loans. It is, thus, not surprising that the issue of the cost of a college education is at the forefront in this year’s presidential primaries. Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton is proposing a “debt-free tuition” and her opponent, Bernie Sanders, is offering “free tuition” for college students. If they are not being just being “politicians” and remain true to their words, then like Europe, college education in the United States will be, for the most part free. However, if they fail to fulfill their promises, then God help America. In light of this, if the current trends in the unemployment rates among recent college graduates and the ever-increasing student loan debts are anything to go by, then a college education is not worth the cost.

On average, college graduates are provided with more job opportunities and make more than those who do not have a college

A college graduate earns a higher income compared to those who only have a high school diploma or less. It is evident that with education, comes knowledge. The more acclimated we are to seek knowledge, the better success we achieve. Many will argue that the degree is not worth the debt one will accumulate. If managed wisely, though, a college degree will not only prove to be more beneficial, but in the end will also make us more prosperous financially. “Adults with a college degree estimated, on average, that they earn $20,000 a year more because of having achieved a degree.