The value of college degree

The Value of a College Degree

Inoue Kentaro

Shimaura Nanase

The escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. Many wonder whether the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt is, in the long run, worth the investment. The risk is especially large for low-income families who have a difficult time making ends meet without the additional burden of college tuition and fees.

There is considerable support for the notion that the rate of return on investment in higher education is high enough to warrant the financial burden associated with pursuing a college degree. Though the earnings differential between college and high school graduates varies over time, college graduates, on average, earn more than high school graduates.

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The cost of high education is escalating. This is causing many to question whether it is worthwhile to continue education beyond high school. There is the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt. Many people wonder whether it is worth the investment in the long run. Low-income families have a difficult time making ends meet without the additional burden for college tuition and fees. The risk is especially large for them.

Pursuing a college degree costs a lot. But the rate of return on investment in higher education is high. Many think the high rate of return warrant the financial burden.

The earnings differential between college and high school graduates varies over time. But on average, college graduates earn more than high school graduates.