Two out of three students attend college straight out of high school. Although they may be excited about going to college, over time they may become very anxious when they realize the cost of education and wonder whether or not it is worth it. This student's parent might have put up more than a quarter of a million dollars before getting a degree, wondering if it would have been more beneficial to spend it elsewhere. One article in particular supports this assertion. Written by Joann Weiner, veteran writer and senior attorney at NYC Health + Hospitals, Do the Benefits of a College Education Outweigh the Cost? is an article published by the Washington Post, 2019, which highlights the relationship between education and the cost to students. The article covers many topics and different types of universities with different levels of education. As per the article, there are many benefits to higher education, although it may not be affordable, we wonder about the benefits versus the cost. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay President Obama said that “higher education is not a luxury. Obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential is a prerequisite for 21st century employment and one that everyone should be able to afford. We are told that to get a well-paid job, you need to have higher education. Even though there are job opportunities without needing a college degree, that doesn't excuse the argument that we don't need to go to extra school. “People with college degrees tend to stay employed during recessions and have lower unemployment rates over time than those with only a high school diploma.” Most high-paying jobs require some form of advanced degree. “The Pew Research Center found that the 'big win' from a college degree lies not so much in earnings as in the ability to get and keep a job.” Additionally, college isn't just about having a high income. On the other hand, it is important to know that a college education has advantages. “Studies show that more educated people are healthier, their children are healthier, and their marriages are more stable compared to less educated people. » This shows that it is important to have a higher education since you are there to learn something and not just waste your money. The goal of the study is not whether college provides a net financial benefit to the graduate, but rather whether college provides a net overall benefit. The Pew survey shows us that most students who graduated from a four-year college benefited from their education and therefore became more mature and intellectual individuals. College has many benefits: in addition to having a great impact on the future, it teaches soft skills and knowledge necessary for future employment. Popular opinion is that college is the way to go after graduating from high school. This is a requirement for many positions, and many expect a higher education degree. However, the financial situation is not mentioned, but rather neglected. This then becomes such a problem that students are unable to attend college due to financial constraints. “It costs on average about $40,000 a year at a private four-year institution and$17,000 at a four-year public institution.” When we see these high numbers, they become overwhelmed and decide not to pursue higher education or take out a loan that they will end up paying for many years. Many students apply for numerous scholarships and grants, but this does not cover much of the overall cost. Unless a full scholarship is presented to a scholar, they could participate in all the financial aid presented, while still finding themselves in debt. “Students (or their parents) can also benefit from a host of education-related tax breaks, such as the American Opportunity and the Lifetime Learning Credit, and can save money in education accounts. tax-advantaged college savings plans, known as Section 529 plans and Coverdell college savings accounts, which lower the cost of saving for college. In many cases, interest paid on qualified student loans is tax deductible. Even if this is available, students remain in debt. Whether a private or public four-year degree-granting university, the price of education is high. “According to CATC, a typical GWU student will pay a net price of $31,443 per year after scholarships and grants. This student will borrow a total of $24,050 and make payments of $276.77 each month for ten years to repay the loan. George Washington University is a private college with a 40% acceptance rate and a 70% graduation rate. With a low acceptance percentage, if a person gets in, they will have a big bill after graduation day, and that is if they graduate. You would think that going to a public university might be a less expensive option, but that's actually not true. “A typical UC-Berkeley student will pay $16,178 per year after scholarships and grants and will benefit from $16,028 in federal loans for a monthly payment of $184.45 over 10 years.” This is the University of California at Berkeley, a public college. I once again noticed the high price and the 10 years of monthly payments. They only have a seventeen percent acceptance rate and a ninety-eight percent graduation rate. Now consider another private institution: “For Harvard, a student will pay $14,445 per year after scholarships and grants and take out $11,000 in federal loans for a monthly payment of $126.59 over 10 years. » Harvard is a well-known private Ivy League research university, known for its intellectual undergraduates. A proof of this would be the ninety-eight percent graduation rate, although some might consider it exclusive due to their five percent acceptance rate. Finally, we consider another public university to be largely a low-cost public institution: “A student at California State University-Los Angeles will pay $3,713 per year after scholarships and grants. This student will qualify for the same amount of federal student loans as the Harvard student and will therefore receive the same monthly payment of $126.59. It's possible to go to a public university for the price of a private university, but that also involves the school's credibility and networking opportunities. In this case, the graduation rate is lower than forty-one percent, but the acceptance rate is therefore higher at sixty-four percent. This indicates the average net cost a student pays for a year at a particular college or university. As we see with all of these examples, wherever one attends a university, there is an expectation that it will lead into some sort of department. The student will have to repay any loan borrowed for.