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It seems as if our world requires a university degree.
Georgetown University Center for Education and Manpower Eight years ago expected that by 2020, 65 % of the country's jobs will require education after high school.
In 2018, 70 % of workers were in those jobsThis means that we have become more educated than economists previously believed that we will need to be.
Georgetown's 2027 expectations will be published soon Similar to the past. There will be fewer jobs available for those who have no kind of certificate after school. More job opportunities will be available for employees who get at least a classroom.
These days, with a high school diploma only, it may be difficult to win enough to achieve the isolated situation of the “middle class”.

American public media Reports indicate that “the gap in wages between people who get a bachelor's degree and people with high school diploma only have multiplied almost since the early 1980s.”
However, at the same time, the financial burden of university degrees programs continues to rise.
ProPublica Reports that the cost of public colleges and academic fees within the country increased by 80 percent from 2000 to 2014, while the average income decreased by 7 % during the same period.
and Education Data Initiative It is calculated that tuition fees and fees increased 130 %, after Counting for inflation, since 1990.
What causes high tuition fees
Economist Akraz House He argues that there are four main drivers to increase tuition fees:
- The “Golden Ticket” fallac
- Lack of transparency in college prices
- Local universities are not enough for demand, especially for older students
- Excessive government organization, which means that industrial turmoil has difficulty storming the market
There are things that society and the government can do to reduce costs for university students in the long run.
However, predictions expect the college costs to continue to rise faster than inflation, at least in the short term.
Students began to become displaced.
- The cost and investment calculator is more common as students seek to avoid a large loan balance for students after graduation.
- Students also choose alternative registration programs (see more below) to get some or all their paid classes.
Others avoid the kidney completely.
How can you decide when the kidney fruits will come to you?
You can Learn some things From the experience of the college that is difficult to determine for specialization, time management, life skills, friendships, etc.
However, there are ways for the guest if the cost of obtaining a university degree justifies time and expenses.
Net price against the rate of poster
Some argue that although the “price of stickers” for colleges has increased significantly, the “net price”, or the price that students will actually pay to go to the college, is much lower.
The price of the poster is the cost of tuition fees announced for the college. While the net price is the cost of the student after calculating government loans, grants and work prizes for first aid and college discounts on tuition fees.
College data Reports that in the period 2020-2021, the average price of stickers for university students in full-time in private colleges was $ 54,880, while the net cost reached $ 26,820.
At a public university, the average price of stickers was $ 33,220, compared to the average net price of $ 19,490.
While the net prices in these scenarios represent a decrease in costs by approximately 40-50 %, they depend heavily on the family income and the type of school that the student applies.
Families who get less income get more grants and aid. Unfortunately, you will not discover the price of a net school (the price after assisting federal students or tuition fees) until you apply and receive admission.
However, one of the tool may help: the colleges are now required to have a “clear calculator” on its websites.
You can enter your financial information in calculators, and provide an estimate of tuition expenses and fees you will face.
This calculator is only estimates, and incorrect information often appears.
However, they give you an idea of ​​the net price for your target school.
The return on investment from a university degree
One of the scale you can use to understand if the college deserves it is the return on investment (ROI).
The return on the investment is determined by dividing the interest (your salary) to the cost (which prompted it to go to the college).
How can you measure your investment return for your years in college?
The US Department of Education has a website, Total performance cardTo help you calculate your investment return on the basis of the college and the field of study.
You will see the performance card:
- Graduation rate from your chosen school
- The average annual net price paid by the student
- The average profits of the college graduates are now
Note: The site tracks the income of students who received federal assistance only
You can also conduct research at the first year profits of your study field to see if you will be able to earn enough to justify what you pay in tuition fees and fees.
Money Magazine It also contains a tool that classifies colleges by value.
The price of stickers, net price, average students ’debts appear when graduating, and early professional profits. Therefore, you can get an idea about the debt ratio to the profits in the kidney.
How to choose college
When choosing what the school should go, it is important to consider the return on investment. But what if you are not sure of what you want to study?
The college advisor, Amanda Dorski, recommends choosing a college or university that falls within the budget of your family and borrows less if you are not sure of your ability to pay you. Student loans Return in time.
It also recommends using Professional expectations booklet As for the jobs you care about to know the salaries of starting these fields.
“I think you need to be aware of what functional results are, but they are not so rigid that you do not explore or follow your emotions. Don't borrow every other dollar in a field that will not return it to you immediately.
Nowadays, there are online tools that appear if this is what you study, and this is what you expect to make, and this is what you expect to pay in student loans. There are more comparison tools more than ever. “
Amanda Dorsky, College Adviser
Using comparison tools to learn about what you can do is reasonably expect to make decisions against a high -cost university for a low -wage field.
If you are not sure of what you want to study, do not deduct community colleges.
You can go to the audience Community College For much less than a four -year model, it meets the requirements of general education, then move to the school you choose to a higher educational level.
It is often easier to accept it, and provide up to half the cost. Not only is the cost of education, but Living at home with your parents It can provide you with a large amount of housing expenses.
Alternative paths
There are other ways to obtain a post -secondary degree from the typical bachelor's course.
There are double settlement programs, technical training, and community colleges for secondary school teachers.
There is training during work and official assistance or grades that employers pay for older students.
“I always recommend options such as nursing path (accredited nursing assistant). You can register in vocational and technical school education programs and earn CNA by the time you graduate, then get a job immediately.
You can go to college and work on your RN while you work as good money, as well as you continue to get practical experience. ”
Malinda Sadovsky, high school adviser
Many dual registration programs allow a secondary school teacher to earn university credit while still in high school.
Students take the lessons of high school and society at the same time and may earn enough university credits to obtain a classroom.
Instead, they can transfer their credits to a four -year school, and provide money in the general education classes they already completed.
Many companies exceed the liberal arts curriculum and create their training programs.
In the Charlotte area, Vocational Training Program 2000 Technical training is offered for trading such as injection pouring and CNC machines starting from high school.
Students receive 8000 hours in training and classroom, all of whom are driven by the program, as well as a guaranteed job upon graduation.
When the data is misleading
So, does a university degree deserve it?
Many of the supporters of higher education argue that when you look at wage data around jobs in the so -called blue collar industries that do not require a university degree, they are much less than the jobs of university graduates.
In addition, unemployment rates for high school graduates without obtaining a general university degree in general than certificates holders.
However, due to the nature of many blue -colored professions, such as nail techniques, merchants, servers, unemployment and salaries, they may be reported in the Tax Authority, which can affect salary data in tools such as tools Professional expectations booklet.
Rapid research finds many professions that do not require a four -year university degree, such as elevators and reformers, which earn strong salaries (for this profession, achieved an average of $ 88,540 in 2020).
Smart options
The choice of going to college (or not) is an important decision. Therefore, before participating in a four -year scientific degree, do your homework and evaluate whether the experience and the college will help you better get a future job opportunity.
In the end, when you decide the following education steps, you can no longer go to the best school that recognizes you.
Use comparison tools and investment return at your disposal to choose a study program and a school where you can learn a lot but too Win Many after graduation.
The benefits of the college can exceed the choice of total majors and profit capabilities from a future profession.
However, the cost of education after high school cannot be ignored. Remember that most of the loans you get must be paid.
So, prefer yourself in the future and choose it wisely today, to avoid important student loans tomorrow.
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