As Expensive As A College Education Can Be, It’s Worth More Than You Think!

-->

The simple fact is, college is expensive. Even if you have some scholarship money, you won’t receive an education for anything less than numbers with several zeros on their end. It can be a bit scary to think about, especially when the question if the payoff is worth it constantly arises. And if you think you may pursue a major that leads to jobs and careers that frankly aren’t as lucrative as others, perhaps you’ve had your doubts.

Yet looking at college and asking if it’s worth it, is a very broad question. If you will be taking on student loans for years after you graduate and if you don’t wind up making a million your first year out of school, it by no means signifies that that degree wasn’t worth it. The truth is, the question of worth shouldn’t always be thought of as a monetary question. When you go to college, the experiences you’ll receive have a priceless value. Believe it or not, you’re going to school for other reasons than to pursue a major and study a lot.

It’s often the case that you’ll really discover what you want to do—career wise—while you’re in college. And you might even meet the love of your life! You’ll certainly make new friends; some will even be lifelong friends. How can you put a price on those things? Going to college is itself as much of a social experience as it is a learning experience. While it’s true you have to put your time and do your studying to get the most out of it, all of the other experiences can’t be discredited, especially when searching for worth.

From the persistent monetary standpoint, a college degree will also give you greater lifetime income potential, even if you’re not quite retirement ready a few years out of school. It’s a statistical fact, but one that can’t be disregarded. Yet if you also end up pursuing a career you truly enjoy, and hopefully you will, then, if a college degree was required, your payoff can be measured by more than money. Spending decades doing something you don’t like and not receiving much money for it hardly sounds like an enjoyable combination.

So keep in mind, the value of college can take a broad scope. It does cost a lot of money, but what you get out of it will be more than just a chance to make all of that money back. And if nothing else, you just might feel better about having to pay those big tuition bills knowing that worth can be measured by more than money.