The escalating cost is higher education causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. Many wonder whether the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt is, in the long run, worth the investment. The risk is especially large low-income families who have a difficult time making ends meet without the additional burden of college tuition and fees.


While pursuing a college degree costs a lot, there is evidence that the rate of return on investment is high enough to justify it. College graduates earn more than high school graduates. The differential varies over time, but it never disappears.