The Opportunity Cost of Going to College
/
What is the opportunity cost of going to college? What do you miss out on by investing time and money into college?
Read More
Should You Treat Your College Education as a Commodity?
/
A recent article published at the Washington Post claims that education is not a commodity, and cannot be financial analyzed in the same way as a car. While it's true the value of your education depends on a large part on what you put into it, students still have to make the decision carefully, or they risk being burdened with debt that keeps them from achieving their goals.
Read MoreWhy You Shouldn’t Go To Your Dream School
/
Don't become emotionally attached to a specific prestigious university. A smart student can thrive in any college that is a good fit for them, and often be financially and emotionally better off at a different school other than their first choice.
Read MoreThis is Why We Have So Much Student Debt...
/
Nearly 50% of students underestimate the amount of debt they have taken on, and 14% of students with loans believe they don't have any debt whatsoever! It's no wonder the amount of student debt in the U.S. has escalated so rapidly, with college costs rising sky-high and complicated financial aid forms leaving many students with more debt than they imagined.
Read MoreStudent Debt Can Follow You Into Retirement
/Student loan debt is a fact of life that most graduates have to live with. In 2013 about 70% of college students graduated with debt, the average being $28,000 per person. Most students are able to pay it off in a timely fashion, with the standard repayment system having students pay off their debt in 10 years. However, some students have exorbitant debts, and are also underemployed, making it nearly impossible for them to follow the ten year plan. This debt can follow you into retirement, and those who are in default will get their social security benefits cut. About 2 million Americans over 60 have student loan debt. In 2013, 155,000 Americans had their social security or disability benefits cut because of student debt.
This news is troubling and may indicate that borrowers are not aware of their options when it comes to paying back their loans. Student debt is almost impossible to dismiss through bankruptcy, but borrowers who can prove financial hardship can qualify for an income based repayment plan, and even be forgiven for the remainder of their loan after making payments for a specified time period. Learn more about different repayment plans here.
For more information, visit StudentAid.Gov.
Choosing a Major in a Quickly Changing Job Market
/
How do students make a wise choice about a major in a quickly changing job marketplace?
Read MoreYour College Degree: More Valuable Than Ever or Completely Worthless?
/
As more and more students obtain college degrees, they become more necessary to get a job, as well as less valuable as an indicator of special skills. Where will that lead higher education in the future?
Read MoreWhy A College Degree Might Not Pay Off for Everyone
/
While the average salary of a college educated worker greatly surpasses that of high school educated worker, college graduates in the 25th percentile are doing no better than the average high school graduate.
Read MoreCan the Value of a College Degree Really Be Measured So Easily?
/
Due to high tuition rates and skyrocketing student loan debt figures, many are questioning how much a college degree is really worth. But, are we taking too business-like of an approach?
Read More
