1 in 4 Americans Believe College Is a Poor Investment

July 19th, 2011 Brock Hailes Leave a comment Go to comments

A new study conducted by Country Financial reveals that one in four Americans believe a college education isnt a good financial investment. The belief stems largely from the massive increase in tuition costs seen over the past few years and mounting student loan debt that has come as a result.

26 Percent Say College Isnt Worth It

According to the Country survey, based on a national telephone survey of 3,000 Americans, 26 percent polled said a college education is not a good financial investment. This number is up from 19 percent in 2010.

Reasons for the decrease in the perceived value of a college education include increases in costs, as well as uncertain employment prospects. Without the promise of a good-paying jobor any job at allmany feel that attending college just isnt worth the enormous price tag that keeps rising from year to year.

Student loan debt is another reason many feel college just isnt worth the cost. It doesnt seem possible to pay for college without student loans, so many take them out and begin mounting debt. After their interest is tacked on, many end up owing double their original loan amount then have a difficult time finding a job that can help repay it.

College Doesnt Have to Break the Bank

While taking the traditional route of applying for a school then looking for financial aid could make it seem like attending college isnt worth the cost, there are other options to make college more affordable.

Here are some tips to help make college a good investment:

Apply for free money: Instead of applying for student loans, apply for free money like scholarships and grants so you dont have to pay for school out-of-pocket and still get the quality education you desire.
Take AP courses: While still in high school, you can take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and tests that count for college credit. This way, you have fewer classes to pay for once you enroll.
Find colleges with low tuition: There are still four-year colleges and universities with inexpensive tuition. Explore your options to pay less for your education.
Know your degrees earning potential: If you do choose to take out a student loan, make sure it matches your earning potential. In other words, dont take out $100,000 in loans when you know your job will only earn $25,000 a year.

The rising tuition costs and slow-moving economy dont have to become college deal breakers. Explore your options before turning down a quality education, which is still considered invaluable in the eyes of many.

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