Is College Worth the Expense? Yes, It Is | RAND

I'm ready to rant as this is a subject near and dear to me. I believe the value of a college education is relative to the wealth of the individual student's family, the parent's network in the field, the student's network in the field, the degree sought, market conditions in the region where the student intends to be employed, debt incurred, and the prospective relevance of the degree obtained. This article uses statistics comparing the average high school grad compared to the average college grad this only tells the part of the story that encourages vulnerable 18 year olds to accept debts the size of a mortgage with an interest rate that is substantially higher. In today's market high school graduates are much better off gaining real world experience whether that's in the military or in some sort of trade in an environment where everyone gets a degree and grades are often inflated experience is the real separator for employers. Going to college with an actual plan and connections in the field makes a lot more sense than the traditional get an "undergraduate just because everyone does" and "using it to find your passion kind of mentality".

For college, consider type of school along with degree major and cost. For-profit schools charge higher tuition, have a weaker curriculum and also have a weaker reputation for networking. Going to a ranked school is worth the time and money. Going to a guaranteed admission place run by a corporation is an unnecessary risk.

That totally depends on what degree you get. College is not worth the expense if you get a underwater basket weaving degree. Get a good degree in a STEM or business field and you'll do just fine. No one is going to pay you money to hear about your philosophical interpretations in life.