As costs continue to rise, particularly in college, many have begun to question why. However, this challenge has given rise to a journey of self-discovery and determination for students. While stories often state the ultra-competitive college landscape, some have existed in recent years—declining levels of college enrollment.
I completed my higher education and gained valuable experiences before and during the pandemic. Interestingly, I managed to graduate a year earlier than expected, but it wasn’t a planned achievement. Unfortunately, I failed one of my courses, which I didn’t even need. These days, I go through the motions of taking electives, which I don’t need for my degree and require extra payment. However, I see them as a chance to learn and grow. I even repeated one of my past elective courses which gave me valuable experiences.
The conversation of higher education remains the mix of excitement, wonder, and reality, as well as a pinch of monetary data that will continue to show that a college degree grants meaningful financial benefits. Especially within our current time, which includes the growing intense endeavor marketplace, college graduates like me are constantly on an up-and-down journey of finding work that matches the skill, experience, passion, and need for much more effortless and powerful, significantly higher earnings.
I recently graduated with a bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication. However, I’ve found job hunting highly frustrating and difficult. Despite my college degree, I’ve struggled to secure a career that aligns with my passion and values. However, I am optimistic that my degree will enable me to deliver practical knowledge and transparency within our ever-evolving society, an especially crucial skill today.
Even if you got a scholarship and had financial support from your family, that doesn’t completely cut down the cost of university. Whenever anyone attends college, regardless of their financial situation, their wallet always takes a hit. With economic and educational inequity comes a significant increase in demand, with many individuals attending college. Especially within such a competitive market, many colleges continue to raise unforgivable prices that have individuals not wanting to attend school due to pressure, availability, and the what-ifs.
There’s an understanding of how many students and families suspect college isn’t exactly “worth it.” The transferable price” of college tuition has grown for years, and numerous students carry hefty loans by the time of graduation. But more clearness and responsibility in higher education —associated with better-educated assortments with individuals—will boost enthusiasm among future students. It’s worth investing in a college degree, but you have to learn where to go to school and what it means.
Colleges often make pricing notoriously unclear. And students from lower-income families often don’t realize this: they would spend much less than that ever-increasing ” transferable price.” The network of a four-year college experience—what students pay after economic aid— including insurance for every semester.
Taking additional courses can significantly increase the debt burden of an average student. However, not all schools or degrees offer the same outcomes for their students. We must hold colleges accountable for their students’ performance. In situations where schools are underperforming, they should not receive federal funding. Higher education institutions should prioritize student success and provide meaningful outcomes.
When selecting a school, you should carefully consider the available options and choose the one that is the best fit. Let’s examine the intermediate outcomes of students who attended a particular school and earned a specific degree. That way, prospective students can better understand what they want so they can reach their goals.
Investing in higher education is an investment in one’s future. As educators, we must prioritize and modify courses to foster wise student decision-making. Let’s inspire them to make the most out of their college choices. After all, they’ll pave the way to a brighter future.
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
Higher ed has always been expensive, but it’s just crazy how much money one would need today. I fin it really disappointing, although we have to admit that there’s a more affordable option: online degrees!