Throughout high school, students are burdened with countless decisions that their futures seem to depend on. Whether it’s deciding which classes to take or who to make friends with, these difficult decisions accumulate and create the stress associated with high school. However, one of the most daunting choices we feel pressure from is what we are going to pursue once high school is over. It can feel like everyday students are interrogated by teachers, families, and neighbours wondering what awaits after graduation. For many Americans who graduated high school, 68 percent in 2023 to be exact, their choice was to attend college.
The cost of attending a four-year college is undoubtedly high. These price tags often include the direct costs of tuition, room, and board. This is the first cost people see and judge the worthiness of enrolling in college. However, there are other costs that underline this decision, most notably opportunity costs. These are the “what if?” costs: what a person gives up when choosing one option over another. The largest opportunity cost of attending college is the income students would earn through a job, and this has been rising since the late 1990s. When including opportunity costs, the total expenses from college averaged $150,000 in 2024. Many families turn to student loans in order to pay such a large amount. Overall, when totalling student loan debts in 2023-2024, the total added up to $1.833 trillion. So, the ultimate question these startling statistics raise is: Is college a worthy investment?
From the perspective of a high school student who dreams of becoming a criminal court attorney, I believe that college is a worthy investment. Unfortunately, many jobs require a college-level degree or even more, such as trial attorneys. Even if a degree isn’t required in a certain field, such as IT or sales, it still may be expected by employers. Based on this factor alone, the question becomes less about whether college is necessary for some students and more about how to attend college in the most financially responsible way. Nonetheless, the benefits of college are still plentiful. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York discovered that college graduates received a 12.5% rate of return in 2025. This number took both direct and opportunity costs into consideration. The study found that college-degree holders made an average of $32,000 more compared to high-school degree holders. It should also be noted that some colleges can offer internships and networking opportunities that allow students to easily find work right after graduating, which can help reduce debt and expenses early out of college. These opportunities may not be accessible for young adults outside of college settings.
However, not every student should attend a four-year college. While bachelor’s degree holders do make around 41.2% more than associate’s degree holders, an associate’s degree is more affordable and can provide entry-level knowledge into a field. This path may be better suited for those who want to start working and earning money as soon as possible. Even entering the workforce directly may be the best choice for some students, provided that degrees are unimportant for their career. Moreover, statistics do not show the specific benefits for different career paths or even specific degrees. Certain degrees may hold negative values in terms of return on investment, such as consumer sciences, liberal arts and humanities, education, and psychology. Therefore, when considering careers in such fields with possibly negatively valued ROIs, one may wish to avoid college and look for alternatives. Trade and vocational schools provide shorter, more narrowly focused learning that allows one to enter the workforce quicker, and apprenticeships allow you to earn income while learning. These are just two options that may be better suited for certain students graduating from high school.
So, while I believe that college can be a good investment from an economic standpoint, this does not apply to everyone. Attending college is optimal for people similar to myself who wish to go into a field that requires high-level education and are willing to wait for a steady income after finishing school. For those who wish for an income straight out of high school, or who have jobs where the return on investment is minimal or even negative, college may not be the best economic option. If any Central student feels uncertain about which path is right for them or needs guidance with this difficult decision, our college and career counselor Mrs. Nuechterlein is always here to help. When making this important decision, students should weigh the costs and benefits on a case-by-case basis, rather than assuming one path is the best for everyone.
