Why must it be so expensive to get a college education?
I am an in-state student at a state school. Why is it so hard to stay out of debt in order to get an education? Does it really have to be that expensive?
My freshman year, I went to Indiana University Bloomington. Thanks to being one of the top students in my high school graduating class (with really good skills in answering interview questions), I received a lot of small, one-shot scholarships that made financing my freshman year a little easier.
Last year though, I had no idea how to pay for school. My father makes too much money, according to FAFSA, to receive federal or state financial aid, but there are so many other circumstances that FAFSA doesn't take into account. My parents, other than some application fees, and getting me back and forth to Bloomington, haven't really put out any money for my education. They can't afford to, and they still have my younger sister to eventually put through college as well.
So, mainly because I didn't have a good way to pay for it, I stayed home for a year and went to a local IU branch, where, in total over the entire year including tuition, books, fees and transportation, I paid less for the whole year than I did for a semester at Bloomington.
But I'm a journalism major, and this IU branch doesn't have a journalism degree, so it's back to Bloomington I have to go. With still no clear plan how to pay for the next 2 to 2.5 years that it will take to finish my degree.
Sure, I could take out student loans, but then you have to pay them back. The minute you have more than about $10,000 in debt (which some people accumulate in a semester of college loans), your monthly payments begin to seriously eat into your income after you graduate--and it goes on for years. I know 35 year olds still paying off college loans from more than a decade ago. Journalists barely make enough money as it is without having to pay off $30,000 or more in loans.
But really, what other options are out there? In order to get anywhere, you need an education. But in order to get an education, you have to go into debt. It doesn't make any sense.
















It is ridiculous for an education to cost so much. While I do feel bad that my parents have to pay so much, they are willing to do that and give me the chance to go to Wharton. It better be worth it.
It is high. But hey, the teachers must be paid somehow
It has become a great problem for a lot of people in regards to money for education. As myself am having that problem, but still in my senior year of high school. I have noticed taht it is so expensive and everyone is expected now to at least go to college for a "normal" job. It has become such a high expectation. I don't either want to be in that situation where paying for college will be my life. But it seems that education will come first. It really does not make sense. But then I think colleges want us to spend money because high school, rates of drop outs are still high in some states. And to think about it, why give free education in college when some don't even want it?
Its hard to balance. You need to go to school and do good but you need money for tuition so how much do you work - how much can you work. And with scholarships and FASFA how do you determine what to do? Its hard I don't knwo how im going to do it. Espically beacuse I want to go out of state - so much more expensive.
For kids planning on going to college check out these helpful posts!
http://www.progressiveu.org/192907-college-the-american-dream
http://www.progressiveu.org/201549-10-ways-to-be-compleatly-and-fully-pr...
I have a problem with this statement:
"Sure, I could take out student loans, but then you have to pay them back."
What is so wrong about earning an education? We are lucky enough to live in a place where anyone can go to college, no matter who you know, what race or gender you are, or where you are from. Many others would love to have this opportunity, yet everyone seems to have a problem with earning their education. I am glad to be able to go to college and consider myself lucky to have student loan payments as my biggest problem in life.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder