Education:

A Necessary Hassle?

By Candace L. Hurdle

The opportunity costs of pursuing an education can prove to be more

costly than necessary; which may cause it to be discouraging and as a

result less beneficial.

Doe

s It

Rea

lly

Mat

ter?

Unless you are going to be an engineer, architect, teacher, lawyer, the label on your degree does not matter.  The degree is a check-mark (as opposed to the focus) in most job requirements.”

I’ve been thinking lately about the value of a college education. I earned a B.A. in Psychology from Willamette University in 1991 (with a minor in English Lit, and almost another minor in Speech Com). What have I done with this degree? Almost nothing.”

I Can

Stil

l Suc

ceed

…

Righ

t?

They do not have

a degree

Oppo

rtuni

ty

Cost

s Connie plans to attend a state college and study to become an elementary teacher. Listed below are the costs of

her choice.

Year *Direct Costs of College*:

Opportunity Costs (Lost Wages)

Year One $ 8,000 $16,000 Year Two $ 8,500 $16,500 Year Three $ 9,000 $17,000 Year Four $ 9,500 $17,500 Total $35,000 $67,000

Total: $102, 000

AN ECONOMIC MYSTERY "When it takes, at

least, an additional seven years of

schooling, and over one hundred thousand

dollars in costs and lost earnings, why

would a person want to graduate from

college….?"

Stud

ent L

oans