My Take on The Rising Cost of Not Going to College
After reading the article "The Rising Cost of Not Going to College" published on pewsocialtrands.org, I was determined to share the study's findings with anyone who was contemplating a college education.
Furthering your education is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family to ensure financial security. According to the Pew Research that analyzed the U.S. Census Burear, Millennial college graduates ages 25 to 32 who work full time earn about $17,500 more annually than employed young adults holding only a high school diploma! This gap is larger today than it was in previous generations.
"College is too expensive; I can't afford anymore debit so I'll just get a job to get me by."
A college degree, although time consuming and expensive, is worth it in the long run, especially with student loan rates as low as 3.86%. Also, there are so many grants and scholarships out there for the very individuals who are struggling to make it. Check out Fastweb to see if you can get part of or all of your college education paid for, and apply for federal student aid through the Department of Education. Subsidized and Unsubsidized government student loans are set up so that individuals can pay them off in 10 years. They can be deffered and extended if the individual loses their job or experiences other financial hardships, and if an individual is still paying off student loan debt 25 years later, the loan is forgiven. Don't decide against a college education because it seems expensive; check out your options and do it.
"I have children and don't have the time, the money or the support."
Having children should not stop you from getting your education. Yes it will be harder, and yes you will need to spread yourself thinner than your education counterparts that don't have children. Just think though, with a degree, you will be able to work smarter not harder. You'll have more opportunities to start and enjoy a career, which will allow you to move up in the business world. Here are some options to consider if you have children and you want to pursue a college education (care of franklin.edu)
1. Pursue a 100% online degree and complete your college coursework while the kids are playing, busy or sleeping.
2. Swap babysitting services with friends so that you watch their kids and they watch yours.
3. Find a qualified local babysitter, nanny or child care provider through a reputable online service such as www.sittercity.com, www.care4hire.com or www.online-nanny.com.
4. Ask your college or university about CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools), a federal grant program that helps schools provide subsidized childcare for low-income students.
5. Investigate options for free child care and learning through a federally funded program like Head Start.
6. Search online for child care scholarships by state. Use keyword phrases such as “childcare scholarships in Ohio” or “childcare subsidy+Illinois.”
7. Talk to student services staff about how they can help connect you to child care resources, programs and assistance.
"I need money right now. Going to college won't help me."
According to the Pew Research, among those ages 25 to 32 with only high school diplomas, 22% are living in poverty compared with today's college-educated young adults. Also, another finding has officially determined that today's high school diploma is dramatically declining in educational value: the unemployment rate for only a high school education currently stands at 12.2%, which is 8% more than those with a college education! As mentioned before, a college education will pay off in the long run, so ask for support from your family and friends and search for resources in your community or at the college you will be attending to help you financially succeed while you are getting your college education.
I have a BA in Child Development and a Masters in Education. I have used my education in more ways than I thought possible. I don't regret the time or money I spent getting my education and you won't either. If getting a college education (or completing a college education you began and never finished) is a goal in your life, there is no better time than the present! Seek out the websites and resources I have posted and get going on your goal. Your life will never be the same, and trust me this is a good thing.
Thanks for listening,
~Kayla