Argumentative Essay: Is College Worth The Cost?

Is College Worth the Cost?
What do you want to be when you grow up? This is a question that children are asked in elementary school and even later in their educational careers. "I want to be a doctor, an astronaut, or a vet," was the most common response. Every profession we were familiar with as kids require a college degree. From a young age, children are taught that going to college is necessary for success. We are always told to go to college by our superiors, but we are never given a true explanation of why it is important or what the benefits of going to college are. Despite the cost, attending a 4-year university might be worthwhile in the long run, depending on the career path one chooses. A degree does not ensure job security or a

Many people feel it is beneficial to invest money on a college education. In most cases, earning more money depends on the field one chooses to enter after graduating from college. Most employers today want to see an applicant have some sort of higher education when applying for jobs as this has changed from the past. As there are many paths one can take to be successful a college education is the most traditional idea of how to live the “American Dream”. Dreams of attending college, getting married, and starting a family are the typical persons aspirations. After high school, teenagers are compelled to decide what their next step in life should be, and students are urged that attending a university will provide a future of stability and structure. Everyone deserves the chance of being successful in whatever path they

CNN claims that “you will have earned enough money to repay the cost of your degree and make up for your time out of the workforce by the age of 34.” (Lobosco)With that said, it typically takes people with debt 10 years to pay off all their student loans from a bachelor's degree. An average Missouri graduate accrues $28,713 in debt, with a debt-to-income ratio of 56%. (Student) Some people join the military to help with college funding, others have parents who pay for their college expenses, and there are scholarships and grants that can help students avoid debt. Without taking out student loans, attending college is doable because there are many recourses available to help offset the cost. A student doesn't have to attend a 4-year university; an alternative that is much more affordable is enrolling in a community college or trade school, which will only award a certification or associate degree. The only drawback to earning a lower degree is that it generally has a lower pay ratio, though this isn't always the case. Students graduate from college with valuable skills that will help them in their future careers and a sense of job security because a degree is something that can't be lost as it was