Anyone who has ever considered going to college knows that it’s not cheap. While it may be expensive, many people still want to go. College offers many experiences that an individual may only get there. It also offers a chance of obtaining a degree in something you love and wish to make a career out of. Just how much debt can one accumulate over the course of their college career and is it worth it?
Being a college student myself, I’ve always had pressure by my family to get a degree in something. Even if that means not liking what they want me to major in. Success is all that matters to most people, but what does enjoying life mean if you don’t like what you are doing? It’s important to think about the many options it can mean to get a certain degree and the amount of money that goes into it.
My university costs me roughly $24,000 a year. So, over 4 years, that is $96,000. That’s just the college itself. Not considering everything else that may cost you in those 4 years, like traveling, food expenses, and emergencies. It’s only worthwhile if you are enjoying your time there and getting the education you need for your future. You should think about it like this: A degree is better than no degree.
With tuition rising, how is everyone supposed to get a good outcome when it is costing so much? According to Jillian Berman, “For every extra dollar available to students in subsidized federal aid, college raise tuition by an estimated 65 cents on average, according to a staff report released by the Federal Reserve Bank…” (Berman). It seems endless, the more people who want to apply for a loan, and the more they get out of it and accept it, then the tuition will continue to rise.
A topic of real concern is the debt that students will have to pay at some point. For over 10 years, students will be paying a certain amount each month, just for their school. “1.44 trillion in total U.S. student loan debt,” has been released for 2017, as well as “44.2 million Americans with student loan debt” (A Look).
A reason for college being so expensive each year is because “…deep budget cuts in state funding for public higher education and shrinking subsidies at private school have pushed a greater share of the cost onto students and their families” (Schoen). Wanting a college education is still something people wish to have, but with the rise of tuition, among other expenses is getting to be too much, how does one handle that?
I, and many others, handle it with loans, grants, scholarships, and help from my parents. Something that any student is grateful for. Of course, my parents make me work for it in one way or another, like by writing these papers. I’d rather work for the money, then do nothing.
The point is, asking for help is okay. Money should not be an issue when it comes to your right to have an education. Although, it is something you should think about when considering where you want to go for it. Also, consider your total cost at the college of your choice because it will prepare you for what is to come. Nothing is free in this world and you should work for what you want.
References
Berman, J. (2015, July 08). The real reason college is so expensive. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-surprising-reason-for-rising-college-tuition-2015-07-07
Schoen, J. W. (2016, December 08). The real reasons a college degree costs so much. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/16/why-college-costs-are-so-high-and-rising.html
U.S. Student Loan Debt Statistics for 2017. (2017, May 08). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/
