In my educational circles the past few months I have been pondering the realities of the crisis that has become higher education. More and more students are vying for less spots per capita (with more students wanting to go to school there are less spots available per student). The value of a college education is dropping rapidly as there are more individuals in our society with BA degrees. It has been said by many that today a BA is worth what a HS diploma was worth 20-30 years ago.
We are no longer in the industrial age, yet our schools were designed to educate for the industrial age. We are now in the technological age, our lives imprisoned to the ever-changing world around us. The speed at which change occurs is faster than we ever believed was possible. Just ten years ago there was no Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest. There were no iPhones or iPads or Wiis. No one had an iPod. Ten years ago MP3 players were just making their debut and there were still people who resisted owning cellphones. Why do I bring all this up? When we look at our colleges and universities, I cannot help but wonder – how are we truly capable of training our young people to inherit our ever-changing world. Students who begin their IT degrees will learn in their Freshman year all about cutting edge technology that will be obsolete before they graduate.
And what happens after our young people become proud graduates with BA degrees? The average debt of a student graduating with a BA degree is now over $25,000. The cost of degree has risen as the value of the degree has plummeted. I am curious. How is a UCLA graduate who delivers pizza and has $25,000 in debt better off than a 20-year-old pizza delivery guy with no degree and no debt? How is it that the college educated individual has a better life? From what I can tell, they have more financial burdens and no more ability to support themselves than the person with a high school diploma. It seems that BA degrees are now holding one strong purpose – they are the stepping stone to a master’s degree. Thankfully, many people can still walk away from masters degree programs trained to start lucrative careers (as long as the job market allows for it).
I received my BA in 1995, my MA in 1998 and my post-graduate certificate in 2002. I needed to take out student loans to pay for each of my degree programs. I am still at least 12 years away from paying off my student loan debt (maybe more, I do not even bother to check – I just know that the monthly payments have a LONG way to go). I do not personally regret taking out my student loans, as my education is what allowed me to hold the professional position I have today. Without the loans there would be no education and I would not have my current profession. That said, I may question the value of my education if I had a BA degree, $25,000 in debt and no profession that allowed me to immediately secure employment to begin to pay off the debt I incurred.
Is it worth it? Will it be worth it when my girls are college age? Maybe they would be better off joining AmeriCorps, the Army, or Traveling the world. All viable options that will probably provide more educational stimulation than the overcrowded university and college campuses of today. I also wonder if it is wise for a person who just turned 18, a child, to head right into a collegiate education that costs so much. Most 18 year olds do not yet have strong life and career ambitions. Is that the time to be heading to university? Perhaps it makes more sense for them to take a few years off to discover what they really want and then head to university more focused and in a better space to get more out of their ridiculously overpriced higher education.
So, what is the moral of my rant? It is okay to ask whether the value of your college education is worth the debt you will incur to receive it.
If you are graduating from high school and needing to make decisions about what course to take, I encourage you to take your time and make healthy choices for you.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
Cheryle Fluker
March 5, 2012 at 21:39
Hello there, simply changed into aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful in the event you proceed this in future. A lot of folks might be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
400daystil40
March 6, 2012 at 22:38
Thank you, Cheryle!!!
~400daystil40
michaelvuke
March 8, 2012 at 00:36
Great post! I am a firm believer that the current higher education model is broken. Because of this, I am utilizing non-traditional methods that allow me to get my fully accredited degree for less time and less money (like CLEPs, DSSTs, and online courses). This way, I keep more financial freedom, I stay up-to-date, and I have the time to gain real-world experience, which is what is really valuable.
I really like this idea for a blog! I’m going to have to look around some more 🙂
Paul Hastings
March 8, 2012 at 23:08
Or you could study online full-time, receive a full bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in 2 years, and have only spent $7,000 in the process (with no student loans).
400daystil40
March 9, 2012 at 21:35
Good point, Paul.
Many online programs do allow us to get an education for a fraction of the cost!
~400daystil40
michaelvuke
March 10, 2012 at 22:51
I’m actually going to be graduating from TESC; I’m transferring my CLEP and DSST credits over and will finish out through them over the next semester or so!
400daystil40
March 11, 2012 at 20:53
Wow, congratulations Michael!
~400daystil40
michaelvuke
March 12, 2012 at 04:04
Thanks 🙂
Kecia Isenhower
March 12, 2012 at 06:31
Rattling superb information can be found on weblog . “The fundamental defect of fathers is that they want their children to be a credit to them.” by Bertrand Russell.
Kieth Imboden
March 14, 2012 at 02:36
I see so many articles with poorly written content that this one is refreshing. It’s great to know there are people that can write well and get their point across.
400daystil40
March 14, 2012 at 23:15
Thank you, Kieth. I hope you visit again!
~400daystil40
weggieboy
March 23, 2012 at 20:54
I retired from a quality analyst job that any reasonably intelligent and computer-savvy person could manage, degree or not. A person without a degree, however, wouldn’t even be considered as my replacement because it is a salaried exempt position. Make sense? No. If a person wanted that job, however, he or she had betetr get that BS, even if it is in forestry management – doesn’t matter – becaue the policy of the company is people in those salaried exempt positions require a degree of four years experience in that type of work. Of course, to gain the four years experience in that type of work…you need a degree! Ha! I’m glad I am retired.
400daystil40
March 23, 2012 at 23:50
Yes, it does make sense… and is a good point – many employers do seem to want a degree, any degree. I think the question in terms of acquiring debt for a degree is a young person understanding where they want to head after they complete their degree. If they see themselves delivering pizza, it may not be worth it…. it really depends on the long-term goals post university. Congratulations on your retirement!
weggieboy
March 23, 2012 at 20:59
My eyes crossed a bit while typing, it seems, and there is not edit feature. Most typos can be worked out, but one needs a little clarification: “…require a degree [or] four years experience in that type of work….” It is a classic conundrum faced by people new to the workplace.