Background: After America’s most recent economic recession, the nation’s economy and the job market shifted. Along with these changes, there have also been changes in the cost of a college education. According to a statistic from College Board, there has been an 11% increase in the cost of a college education over the past 5 years. With the cost of investing in a college education on the rise, it has become a contentious topic. For many young scholars, the decision is made for them by their parents, teachers, and peers. Historically, higher learning has been associated with better occupations and higher wages. For the average college student in the U.S. college tuition falls around $22,000, with prices varying between private, public, in-state, and out-of-state institutions. While the numbers on the price tag associated with a college degree aren’t getting any cheaper, there has still be an increase of the number of people that enrolling. According to the U.S. Department of education, between the years of 2003-2013 there was a 20% increase in the number of students who enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions.
Background image from David Sirota. Salon. 29 Aug 2013. Web. 4 Dec 2016.