My degree isn't worth the debt... (bachelors, degrees, costs, schools) - Colleges and Universities -Higher education - City-Data Forum

emirate25 · 07-13-2011, 09:34 AM

Do you agree or disagree?

degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney - broken link)

kreeyax · 07-13-2011, 09:42 AM

I don't know, I think some of these colleges are getting outrageously expensive. I don't know if it's because of the millions of dollars they pay the coaches, or what. I went to a small university that didn't even have a football team. Came out with a bachelor's degree and no debt because the school was so cheap. Landed a good job and get paid comparable to my co-workers who went to the big money football schools. I think people just have to evaluate their finances and see if they can really afford it. Like buying a Mercedes vs. a Honda. Is the prestige worth it to you? They both get you where you want to go.

TimBomb · 07-13-2011, 09:43 AM

agreed

Proud2bPinoy · 07-13-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreeyax

I don't know, I think some of these colleges are getting outrageously expensive. I don't know if it's because of the millions of dollars they pay the coaches, or what. I went to a small university that didn't even have a football team. Came out with a bachelor's degree and no debt because the school was so cheap. Landed a good job and get paid comparable to my co-workers who went to the big money football schools. I think people just have to evaluate their finances and see if they can really afford it. Like buying a Mercedes vs. a Honda. Is the prestige worth it to you? They both get you where you want to go.

NTT · 07-13-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreeyax

I don't know, I think some of these colleges are getting outrageously expensive. I don't know if it's because of the millions of dollars they pay the coaches, or what. I went to a small university that didn't even have a football team. Came out with a bachelor's degree and no debt because the school was so cheap. Landed a good job and get paid comparable to my co-workers who went to the big money football schools. I think people just have to evaluate their finances and see if they can really afford it. Like buying a Mercedes vs. a Honda. Is the prestige worth it to you? They both get you where you want to go.

I agree in this respect as Kreeyax's comment above. Colleges & University should put more effort in making higher education more affordable. IMHO, a higher educated society results in a better nation.

I just hope that the article doesn't steer young ones from continuing and achieving higher level of education. What we learned, we get to keep it for the rest of our lives; regardless, whether that knowledge is applicable to our jobs or not. I do find that at times, my education has been beneficial to my personal life.

Dopo · 07-13-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emirate25

Do you agree or disagree?

degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney - broken link)

The name of the game is "Take public funding away, then make hard working people pay out of their pocket"
What's wrong with that... it punishes kids that have poor parents.

"Some politicians" constantly vote to take money away from education "to balance the budget" but never proposed to take money away from things that rich people need: Police, Firefighters, roads, highways, etc.

Dopo · 07-13-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreeyax

I went to a small university that didn't even have a football team. Came out with a bachelor's degree and no debt because the school was so cheap.

Some people that seem to live in fantasy land say "Those football teams make money for the university".

Tell that to a guy (me) that went to a university where the whole football team was on a full scholarship and didn't win a single game 2 seasons in a row.

Malvie · 07-13-2011, 10:38 AM

Agree with all the comments above, and would add:

Each of the individuals got a degree in some field that was not really in high demand: Political Science (only thing to do with that is compete for a very small pool of teaching jobs at low pay, or go to law school), Public Health (always low paid except for a very few positions at the very top), Engineering with a specialty in designing "high-end autos"--well, geepers, there's a lot of call for that one, how many of those jobs are there in the entire world? Yes, he has an engineering degree (from a hideously expensive school), but so do many graduates of Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Texas Tech (much cheaper).

I have always thought it was tough, making 18 year old kids make huge decisions that will impact them for life, but that's the way it's always been (think apprenticeship in England in the 1700's).

I especially agree with the comment above about "Mercedes vs. Honda--both will get you there." I graduated from Baylor, and I had a lot of scholarships, etc., but I would NEVER go there now when I could go somewhere like UofH for far less money.

My sister has a Bachelor's degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and she makes the same money I do....

...and both of us were saying this morning, plumbers and electricians make more than we do...

sheikh.yerbouti · 07-13-2011, 11:05 AM

First two years at a community college then remaining years at a university will save a lot of expense as well. Plus you end up with a degree from the university upon successful completion of requirements.

You can use the first two (or more) years for "self-discovery, changing majors, interests" etc. without taking a huge tuition and fee hit.

Plus, a lot of community colleges have vocational programs in which a student can enroll if the bachelors+ degree route is not appropriate.

True, community college costs have skyrocketed over the past decade as well, but are still a fraction of that of universities.

houstonfan · 07-13-2011, 11:19 AM

In the States, education is like an investment. Just like you wouldn't want to overpay for a house that has little resale potential, one should not pay the high tuition of private college for a degree with little marketability and little income potential. As pointed out by previous posters, some of these people in the article made poor decisions. Hollywood has always lauded the ideal of following your fantastical dreams and whims, -that's the American way. Well, a good dose of realism sometimes helps. Look at your financial means, don't over borrow, get degrees that you enjoy but also has a good income later. I really do greatly admire people who follow their dreams and take the less travelled road and give up on material goods, but the problem is many of these people don't succeed in their goals and years later, they regret their decisions and become very bitter. For every Hollywood ending, there are probably 99 other disillusioned people.