anniemal

Mr. President

“I want all of you to set a goal to continue your education after you graduate,” Mr. Obama said to students at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington. “And if that means college for you, just getting into college isn’t enough. You also have to graduate.

I really appreciate that the president is encouraging young high school students to continue their education, but is he going to dish out money for their tuition? Most unlikely. With the constant rise for in-state and out-of-state tuition, college is merely a distant dream. Without a well-paying job, scholarship, or aid - students and their families will be in debt.  

“[C]olleges and universities continue to raise tuition far faster than inflation and churn out ever more indebted graduates, two reports released by The College Board today show. With states struggling to balance their budgets, the sharpest tuition increases this year were at public colleges; at four year state schools in-state tuition and fees rose an average of 8.3% to $8,244, while total charges (including room and board) rose an average of 6% to $17,131. Private not-for-profit four year college tuition and fees rose an average of 4.5% to $28,500, while total charges, including room and board, went up an average of 4.4% to $38,589. This year’s increases mean that over the last decade, tuition at public four year colleges, after accounting for inflation, has risen an average of 5.6% a year while family incomes have stagnated. Private four year college tuition has gone up an average of 2.6% a year, above inflation, over the decade.”

— Forbes

My professor once told me that I am extremely lucky to sit in a college classroom. Why do I feel like I am making a horrible mistake? Will my degree ever amount to anything? Will I get a well-paying job after throwing thousands of dollars into my university? 

What is the point of college if it can’t get me a job? 

(Source: The New York Times)