Essay On The Cost Of College Education

Ah, college – the bridge to intellectual fulfillment, a luxurious life, and a profitable career. This promise, meaningful but nebulous, is often perceived as a lofty ideal to many working, middle-class Americans, whose financial burdens and economic focus have made the pursuit of higher education seem like an impractical investment. More and more Americans are questioning the value of a college education today, citing the burgeoning costs of tuition and fees, which can leave a new graduate with student loan debt, as reason not to invest in a college degree. College, although undoubtedly expensive, is worth its cost because of its lasting advantages, which extend beyond the question of monetary payoff to the vast realm of knowledge one gains

Critics contend that the earnings of a college graduate are less than they were a decade ago; the rewards of a college education are deteriorating (Source C). While it is true that the entry-level wages of college graduates are not improving, such an argument fails to measure the rewards of going to college against the benefits of abstaining from this pursuit. There is an undeniable disparity between the wages of a college graduate versus those of a mere high-school graduate – an inequality that the more dogmatic critics choose to ignore. Three decades ago, full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree earned forty percent more than those with just a high-school diploma. Since then, this gap has more than doubled (Source D). Even though the wages of college graduates have not improved in recent years, they remain significantly higher than those of workers with a mere high-school diploma. Clearly, the monetary rewards of a college education transcend any doubt as to whether college is worth its initial cost. Although tuition costs are compelling reason for many Americans to choose to not go to college, it is a superficial excuse when weighed with the astonishing effects higher education has on the