Is College Still Worth the Cost?

[vantagestudent1]

Student loan debt has recently reached the 1 trillion dollar mark and has increased 281% in the past decade. Well I agree that the United States government should address the issue of rising college costs, avoiding or boycotting higher education is not the answer. College is overpriced; yet still worth it. A college degree will bring a higher return on an investment than an equal investment in corporate bonds, or hot company stocks. Gradates earn an average of $11 more an hour than high school graduates. Also, assuming a $140,000 college cost, a wage increase of just 1.75 an hour makes the degree “worth it” (you’ll get your money back). But beside the financial perks, the benefits of a college education reach much farther than financial benefits. College graduates live on average 6 years longer due to healthier life habits like exercising and not smoking. They will also provide a better life and more opportunities for their children. Can you really place a price tag on that? Furthermore, college is a time to explore interests and learn academically, socially, and culturally. Education is the key to advancing society and the more college graduates, the better off our country will be. A college degree is an opportunity only a small portion of the world has access to; we shouldn’t pass it up for fear of debt and settling down a little later in life.