Hakobyan 1
Hakobyan 2
Syuzanna Hakobyan
Brandon Dayher
English 1A
February 13, 2018
The Price of College
Education is the single most important factor in the growth of our country. Specifically, higher education paves a future and provides opportunity for students that attend college and gives them a shot at a career. 50 years ago, college was strictly for the elite, high class Americans. Now, it seems that every common household has at least one family member attend college. But with the increasing dropout rate today, students seem less interested in learning at college and their priorities change from their original goal of graduating. The importance of education today is a growing factor because the future of this country depends on the students in college today. According to recent research, 70 percent of Americans enroll and attend colleges all throughout the country from local community colleges to ivy league universities. Of those 70 percent, 64 percent actually graduate with a degree however, 6 percent end up dropping out entirely. The main concern that comes with committing to a college is the outcome that follows once one graduates. “Will I find a job?” “Will I be overqualified?” “Will I ever pay off my student loans?” “Will I make enough money?”. These are some of the questions that go through a student’s mind when it comes to making a decision about their future education although, graduating from college is worth the time, money and most importantly the dedication.
In the essay, “Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say”, David Leonhardt debates the real value of college. He argues that attending and graduating from college is defiantly worth it. By supporting this claim, David states “Americans with a four-year degree made 98 percent more an hour on average in 2013 than people without a degree” (Leonhardt 103). Another important factor he brings up is the economy and it’s tie with college graduates. Leonhardt supports the theory that if more students attended college and graduate, the economy would benefit for the better. David adds, “If there were more college graduates than the economy needed, the pay gap would shrink” (Leonhardt 103). Finally, Leonhardt includes, “college is no brainer, it’s the most reliable ticket to the middle class and beyond” (Leonhardt 105). David Leonhardt stresses the importance of college considering it’s the ticket to financially stability. David’s essay covers the price of college in a well out, understandable essay that gets straight to the point.
However, others argue against Leonhardt by bringing up all of the negative possibilities that college might challenge including student-loan debt, struggle to find work, and essentially if the money and time will be worth it. Referring to Procon.com, there are numerous cons to committing to a four-year degree. Overall the one reason that floats to the top of main concern is students going into debt with student loans. Once students accomplish their dre...
