Costs vs. Benefits: College Education

A fellow classmate brought up an interesting point in blog stage five, explaining the soaring costs of college and how student loans have skyrocketed. As I completely agree that paying for college has gotten out of hand, considering that most college-hopefuls have to resort to loans in order to pay for the education that will hopefully allow them to earn a well paying job, it is key to add that there is more to this dilemma than the cost. The blog mentions that President Obama plans on enacting laws to help pay for these loans post-college, but in the end, will the massive debt accrued to simply get a Bachelors Degree be worth it? Will the outrageous costs be outweighed?

I personally believe that the college education that everyone strives for has become overrated and shady. Sure, it is a chance for one to better oneself and become more knowledgeable, but again, at what cost? It is now becoming a trend to see students studying in a particular field, graduating, and then unable to find work. It is no longer possible to major in something one truely enjoys or else risk the fact that all the money spent and the debt accrued will go to nothing. That person either has to settle for a low-paying job that has nothing to due with the countless hours put into the past 4-6 years or go back to school and put another $25,000 into the money-machine. Thats another $25,000 in debt and another $25,000 the school is putting into their pockets. I feel that it is no longer about the education and the drive to allow the younger generations to thrive and become successfull but about money and greed. Kids should be able to college without ruining their financial life before their life has even come close to beginning. Its pure insanity to think that college students already have piled up debt before they even reach their 20s. The loans are becoming outrageous and the jobs are harder to find, therefore making college contain characteristics that illogical and ridiculous.

Bill Maher, a political enthusiast who takes a blunt, yet humorous approach to government and society, recently spoke in one of his "Real Time with Bill Maher" segments concerning college in general. Maher questioned colleges and their purposes, making the suggestion that degrees have become more like "marketing objects" or in other words, similar to something really expensive that you would buy off a shelf at some kind of store. I couldn't agree more. It is not about the education that the degree stands for but instead the amount of money that it is worth. The longer you go to school, the more expensive that peice of paper, that "label" becomes. The more expensive the degree the more chances of an increase in loans. The more loans, the more money banks and colleges are making, but all the cost of the debt ensued on the person. So then, Do the costs outweight the benefits?