High school seniors around the globe graduate at the end of each school year and receive their high school diplomas. After the completion of high school students are then faced with the question of what is next in their future? Many choose to attend either a four-year university whether it be private or public to receive a bachelor’s degree, while some choose to attend a two-year college where they will receive an associate degree, and then others choose to begin work or join the armed forces. Those who decide to advance their education are then faced with the question of how will they be able to afford to further their education and increase their chances of making more money and being financially stable for their future. Current college students, …show more content…
In 2011, the total of owed student loan debt within this country had surpassed $1 trillion, this lead to current and past students owing more to their student loan debts than to anything else. So many United States college students must borrow money to pay for their higher education. Student loans place a huge burden on college students as they are forced to begin payments on their loans six months following their graduation from college regardless of if they are employed or not. Even though a college degree does provide great financial benefits that eventually will have the potential to pay off the money that is borrowed to pay for the degree will cause a burden onto the student (“Texas”). Texas includes a graph in the article to demonstrate how the benefits of receiving a college degree depend on the major that students selects. For example, Engineering majors monthly income after taxes would be $3,250, and monthly federal student loan payment would be $299; whereas Humanities majors monthly income after taxes would be $1,300, and the monthly federal student loan payment would be $237 (“Texas” 2) this takes more from lower-income graduates …show more content…
The major reason that colleges is worth the cost is because of the higher pay wages that are offered to college graduates versus the lower pay wages for those who do not graduate college. When deciding on whether to attend college student loan debt is often a key determining factor. The government classifies jobs into certain groups or zones based on their various requirements: education and experience. The higher the work zones the more money you make meaning more requirements you have to meet these are often the jobs where a college degree is necessary. While the lower the zones less requirements are needed (Draeger). Draeger validates my point that students don’t want to go into an enormous amount of debt to attend college when he states, “As long as a student is able to borrow minimal funds ($20,000), college easily remains a worthwhile value. Borrowing $20,000 a year for the next four years places a huge burden on the students when they graduate as they are forced to begin making payments on their student debt within six months of them graduating. In today’s society with some jobs being limited to the number of worker’s students are not able to find jobs immediately after they graduate and within those six months so they are forced into taking a lower wage job that are not in line with their major nor require as much knowledge that they have acquired by attending
An education is one of the most important tools a person can acquire. It gives them the skills and abilities to obtain a job, earn a wage, and then use that wage to better their lives and the lives of their loved ones. However, due to the seemingly exponential increase in the costs of obtaining a college degree, students are either being driven away entirely from earning a degree or taking out student loans which cripple their financial prospects well after graduation. Without question, the increasing national student loan debt is one of the most pressing economic issues the United States is dealing with, as students who are debt ridden are not able to consume and invest in the economy. Therefore, many politicians and students are calling
In today's world many people question or education system and question whether or not the cost is of college is worth it just to continue your education. Although you inquire a lot of debt in college. Getting a degree is almost necessary in today's job market because most jobs require one and jobs that do not require a college degree are getting harder to get, as the unemployment rises. Therefore a college degree is worth incurring significant debt. Earning a college not only provides you with job security and provides potential for greater lifetime earnings.
With the ever-increasing tuition and ever-tighten federal student aid, the number of students relying on student loan to fund a college education hits a historical peak. According to a survey conducted by an independent and nonprofit organization, two-thirds of college seniors graduated with loans in 2010, and each of them carried an average of $25,250 in debt. (Reed et. al., par. 2). My research question will focus on the profound effect of education debt on American college graduates’ lives, and my thesis statement will concentrate on the view that the education policymakers should improve financial aid programs and minimize the risks and adverse consequences of student loan borrowing.
Over the past decade, it has become evident to the students of the United States that in order to attain a well paying job they must seek a higher education. The higher education, usually a college or university, is practically required in order to succeed. To be able to attend these schools and receive a degree in a specific field it means money, and often a lot of it. For students, the need for a degree is strong, but the cost of going to college may stand in the way of a successful future. Each year the expense of college rises, resulting in the need for students to take out loans. Many students expect to immediately get a job after graduation, however, in more recent years the chances for college graduates to get a well paying job
One of the most important decisions in any teenager’s life is what they decide to do after high school, the choice is usually between college and deciding to get a job and start making money. Although the cost of education in America continues to rise, the benefits of a higher education are substantial and can be seen in the success of anyone who has a college degree.
In order to be successful in the workforce, having a powerful career there are things needed like higher education. Graduating from college is essential to finding a successful job, since more jobs are making college degree a requirement, more people are going to college. The problem is the cost of going to college outweighs the earning from the career you obtain. Very little people are able to pay for college out of pocket. In 2014, 42% of undergraduates paid for college out of pocket (Sallie Mae). The result of this is that students seeking higher education are forced to take out loans. On average, college students borrows $25,000 to earn their degrees (Alexandria). I just don 't get the concept of college tuition or student loans. It
When opportunity knocks you should always open the door. College is a great opportunity to garner success from a secure career. Furthermore, college or university education is worth the debt you will accumulate from it. If you're still weighing your options, consider this, "Lifetime earnings for college graduate are substantially higher than the earnings of someone without a college degree," (Source 4, pg. 13). Getting a higher education is not just good for you, but its also good for your bank account. On the plus side, it is easier for you to live a better life, and if America ever hits a recession you will be in a better position to support you and your family.
A lot of people will argue, that college is too expensive. Not everyone can go to college, for financial reasons. Also, they may get into college, but end up having to leave because they cannot afford the remaining balances; or, they received financial aid, but end up having to take out loans they are going to be paying back forever. It is like once they graduate they will be working mostly to pay off their student loan debt. This also discourages some students. In some cases, they will not even take the initiative to try because it is so costly. I do not understand why it cost so much to want to better yourself, and possibly put us in debt for the rest of our life just to receive a higher education. Not only has the cost of college risen over a period of time, but it continues to go up. Yes, they have alternatives for paying student debts, but what if you do not qualify? Lastly, you are not guaranteed a job just because you graduate and have a college degree(s).
Have you ever just stopped to think about what it must be like to be “qualified” for a job yet be unemployed and homeless? Starving on the streets because you paid everything you had to an institution that was supposed to guarantee a better life, a more stable and successful career. Obviously this is an extreme case, not everyone who pays for college ends up living on the streets and broke, but almost every college graduate is in debt. For as long as college has been around it has always meant a better life, it’s always been that people who went to college were more successful, smarter, and would make way more money than someone who didn’t go to college ever would. Lately, however, college has become so expensive that going to college will more than likely leave you in debt working for years upon years just to pay back what you owe and then start making money for yourself.
Is a college education really worth the investment of time, money and energy? Is a college degree really worth going deep in student loan debts? Higher education is a considerable gamble. For many people it works out well, but many of the other college graduates have found themselves completely unable to get a great job in this economy with a huge amount of debt on their shoulders. The entire system encourages students to take out any kindand amount of loans they need without worrying how they will pay them back. For that reason these people also say that college education is a good investment. For the past few decades, a college education was actually an almost automatic ticket to a job and a middle class life but today, higher education
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
As Young teenagers become adults and start College, one issue that doesn’t seem as a big deal at the moment for many students are student loans. Young college students who don’t have the money, don’t have enough scholarship money, or family who doesn’t have the money to pay, will apply for student loans each year. They amount the student receives can vary depending on the college and what the student has achieved academically. Though interest rates are low with subsidized being 4.29% and unsubsidized being 5.84% ("Federal Student Aid" Interest rates and Fees), student loans still have a huge effect on college students once they graduate. One college graduate’s story helps explain the struggles for most students:
College graduates are left with debt from student loans. The average student loan debt is less than the cost of most new cars which $20,000 is very affordable (Draeger). College graduates have lower poverty rates (ProCon Pro 7). College grads are more likely to have a job they like and most likely won’t be laid off or be left without income. “Some of the most elite schools spend up to $100,000 to educate a student each year” (Oachs 13). Lower tier schools are easily affordable compared to this and even the elite schools would provide jobs that would make it to where it could be easily paid off. To determine the cost of education is based
The previous claim gives a reliable perspective about choosing to pursue a college education, even if some majors are more limited than others. Research proves that having a degree provides more opportunities for employment rather than not. Statistics from the article on collegechoice.net show “the hourly wage for college graduates is roughly double than that of non-college graduates” confirming that although college students must pay off debt, their income is still valued higher than high school graduates. The article provides yet another fact as to how college graduates benefit from earning their degree because “for common careers not requiring higher education, those with higher education still tend to earn more in the exact same roles.” Corporations feel more confident hiring an employee who has more experience and training in the desired position rather than without, and seem more willing to give a pay increase. The article also states that college, in reality, is not as expensive as it appears. A fact from collegechoice.net claims with the average cost of a public four-year university being $8,890, the average total financial aid comes to $5,770, which is more than 50% of the cost. “While 66% of students do receive direct government aid in the form of grants or subsidized loans, and an even greater percentage receive either private or public aid”, the previous claim from “Special Report: Is College Worth the Debt” provides a perspective of how much the government and other associations are willing to help students who are serious about their education. If someone truly strives to pursue a degree while working hard to receive aid from the government and scholarships, the cost then lowers immensely. This article proved
Debt can make one’s life become a stressful thing. There is a constant worry the debt will continue to grow or dealing with the struggle of having to pay every last penny back plus more. Colleges are finding fewer reasons to lower prices and more reasons to raise prices. The college perspective is understood by many in this matter though. Colleges, as well as any other business, needs to make money also. The affordability of college is the second most important thing about a child’s college education, right below the actual education itself. “… the cost of college will remain unaffordable, tuition will continue to rise, and the 18-year-olds… will ‘get to’ continue paying for college with student loans” (college cost act does not…). Does it really pay off to go to college though?