The cost of attending college is rising every year. Did you know that in the 1960s, it cost roughly $1,000 per year for tuition? Today the average price at a public institution hovers around $7,000. Take that amount over four years, add in books, and you’re talking about $30,000 — which doesn’t even include living expenses.
Nowadays, with governments reducing spending on public education, the price of tuition is soaring higher than ever before. And yet, the majority of students still make the enormous investment in money and time. Why? Because in many ways, a college education is still worth even more than the incredible amounts they’re charging for it.
1) You’ll Make More Money
Still brings the bling
Even with an associate degree, which is a much smaller investment than obtaining a four year degree, the work pays off. Compared with high school graduates, those holding an associate degree earn an average of $116,550 more during their working lives.
According to BusinessWeek, the average annual starting salary of public school grads is about $50,000, which certainly beats working for low hourly wages in retail stores or restaurants. Even so-called “party schools” land their graduates starting salaries of around $46,000, proving you can have your beer and drink it, too.
2) You Can Learn to Do What You Love
There are few things more fulfilling in life than getting paid to do what you love. And spending a lifetime following your interests over the span of a career is often what makes the difference between a life wasted and a life well spent.
It’s important to do something that interests you, but it’s also important to understand that all bachelor’s degrees are not made equal. For example, a four-year B.A. in engineering, which is a highly sought-after field, pays workers $497,930 more than high school graduates, while a B.A. in education only pays out $108,461.
"Look, buddy, I'm an Engineer. That means I solve problems."
3) You’ll Learn About Investing
There’s no such thing as free money.
College is the first big investment that most people will make in their lives — and often one that they will pay for over the next ten years. While this can seem overwhelming to a high school student, just remember the old saying: “You’ve got to spend money to make money.”
The good news is, you don’t necessarily need to have all of your money up front in order to pay for college. In fact, most people don’t. You can get financial assistance from the government, as well as tuition breaks from educational institutions based on merit. Just remember that this is rarely “free money”: you usually have to do things in kind (earn a certain GPA or participate in work-study programs), or pay those loans back. Which, over time, you will.
4) You’ll Learn Something
This might seem obvious, since learning is the point of college, but the real value is being exposed to ideas you would never have considered on your own. The most valuable learning often comes out of the most unexpected class, lecture, or group discussion. For example, you might take a keen interest in Chinese philosophy, or the history of cinema, just because you had an in-depth look at these subjects while taking a class. How would you ever know have found these subjects otherwise?
Basket weaving. It’s a college course.
5. College is Fun
You’ll make memories that you’ll never forget. You’ll make friends that will last a lifetime. And you’ll have experiences, conversations, and ideas that will truly mark your transition into adulthood. You can’t really put a price on these things.
If you’re concerned about the cost of college, don’t be. Millions of people face the same problems, worries, and concerns, but everyone finds a way through. Don’t let financial uncertainty stop you from going, because you’re not going to regret a college education in the long run. It’s simply too valuable.
