Is college worth it?

Investing in college has historically had significant benefits, including specific career opportunities and a better quality of life for millions of Americans. But is this still true?

The question whether higher education is delivering on its promise of value and upward mobility is under intense scrutiny given the pending Supreme Court ruling on student loan debt. Today, more than half of students leave school with debt, resulting in 45 million Americans holding student loan debt totaling approximately $1.7 trillion.

That cost and debt burden has meant more students are unwilling and unable to make the investment and sacrifice. According to Secretary Cardona, “Nearly 60% of Black college students and nearly half of Latino students never complete their degrees, usually because of financial challenges.”

Part of the problem is the overemphasis our society has placed on a college degree for decades, allowing us to overlook the bad practices.

For example, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report that shows 41% of colleges do not provide any net price estimate, and only 9% of colleges accurately estimate the net price of attending college.

We’re certainly never going to discourage anyone from going to college! But our is hope is for young people to have an honest picture of all the opportunities that are available to them.

Learning skills on-the-job is an incredible way to build your earning potential and advance your career without taking on debt.

If you’re interested in exploring opportunities in the skilled trades sign up for our beta today!