College: Is it Still a Good Idea? JOSHUA GARZA

Student Loans

75% percent of students from non profit universities graduate with student loans.

88% of students from for-profit universities graduate with student loans as well.

The average student debt amount for 2012 was $29,400, representing a 25% increase from 23,450 in 2008.

College Debt

Student debt as a whole has just topped 1 trillion dollar, and is rising with each passing day.

Between 2003 and 2012 the number of 25-year-olds with student debt increased from 25% to 43%, and their average loan balance was $20,326 in 2012--a 91% increase since 2003.

10% of students graduate with over $40,000 in debt and about 1% have $100,000 in debt.

Is the Debt Worth it?

Americans with 4 year college degrees make on average 98% more an hour than the average American without a degree.

According to Mr. Autor in the journal Science, the true cost of a college degree is generally negative 500,000 dollars. You stand to lose half a million dollars when you elect to not go to college.

In 2012, the median salary for a college graduate between ages 25 and 32 was $46,900. For those with only a high school diploma, it was about $30,000.

Job Prospects

In Apr. 2013 the unemployment rate for college graduates over 25 years old was 3.6% compared to 7.5% for high school graduates.

Based on economy and job projections calculated by Georgetown University, in 2018, approximately 63% of jobs will require some college education or a degree.

Job Benefits

70% of college graduates had access to employer-provided health insurance compared to 50% of high school graduates in 2008.

70% of college graduates 25 years old and older had access to retirement plans in 2008 compared to 65% of associate's degree holders, 55% of high school graduates, and 30% of people who did not complete high school.

Conclusion

Yes, College is still very much worth it.

Between wage increases, health benefits, and lifetime earning differences a college degree has still proven its worth over time.

Works Cited

http://college-education.procon.org

http://nytimes.com/2014/05/27/upshot/is-college-worth-it-clearly-new-data-say.html

huffpost.com/us/entry/6057262

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/05/09/why-a-college-degree-no-longer-guarantees-success