. According to the Department of Education, only 54% of
undergraduates graduate within 6 years. So for the 46% that don’t graduate, or
take 10 years to graduate, this is a horrible investment. But lets assume your
children are in the brilliant first half who finish within six years (and
hopefully within four). Is it worth it? First, let’s look at it completely
from a monetary perspective. Over the course of a lifetime, according to
CollegeBoard, a college graduate can be expected to earn $800,000 more than
his counterpart that didn’t go to college. $800,000 is a big spread and it
could potentially separate the haves from the have-nots. But who has and who
doesn’t? If I took that $104,000 and I chose to invest it in a savings account
that had interest income of 5% per year I’d end up with an extra $1.4 million
dollars over a 50 year period. A full $600,000 more. That $600,000 is a lot of
extra money an 18 year old could look forward to in her retirement. I also
think the $800,000 quoted above is too high. Right now most motivated kids who
have the interest and resources to go to college think it’s the only way to go
if they want a good job. If those same kids decided to not go to college my
guess is they would quickly close the gap on that $800,000 spread. There are
other factors as well. I won’t be spending $104,000 per child when my
children, ages 10 and 7, decide to go to college. College costs have
historically gone up much faster than inflation. Since 1978, cost of living
has gone up three-fold. Medical costs, much to the horror of everyone in
Congress, has gone up six-fold. And college education has gone up a whopping
tenfold. This is beyond the housing bubble, the stock market bubble, any
bubble you can think of. So how can people afford college? Well, how has the
US consumer afforded anything? They borrow it, of course. The average student
now graduates with a $23,000 debt burden. Up from $13,000 12 years ago. Last
year, student borrowings totaled $75 billion, up 25% from the year before. If

. According to the Department of Education, only 54% of 
 undergraduates graduate within 6 years. therefore for the 46% that do n’t calibrate, or 
 take 10 years to calibrate, this is a horrible investing. But lets assume your 
 child are in the bright first half who finish within six years (and 
 hopefully within four). Is it deserving it? First, let ’s look at it completely 
 from a monetary position. Over the course of a lifetime, harmonize to 
 CollegeBoard, a college graduate can be expected to gain $ 800,000 more than 
 his counterpart that did n’t go to college. $ 800,000 is a big spread and it 
 could potentially divide the haves from the have - nots. But who hold and who 
 make n’t? If I took that $ 104,000 and I chose to invest it in a savings account 
 that give birth interest income of 5% per year I ’d end up with an extra $ 1.4 million 
 dollars over a 50 year time period. A full $ 600,000 more. That $ 600,000 is a lot of 
 extra money an 18 year old could look forward to in her retirement. I also 
 think the $ 800,000 quoted above is excessively high. Right immediately about motivated kyd who 
 have the interest and resources to go to college think it ’s the only way to proceed 
 if they want a good job. If those same kyd decided to not go to college my 
 guess is they would quickly close the gap on that $ 800,000 spread. There cost 
 other factors as well. I wo n’t be spending $ 104,000 per child when my 
 children, old age 10 and 7, decide to go to college. College costs have 
 historically gone up much faster than inflation. Since 1978, cost of living 
 has go up three - fold. aesculapian costs, much to the horror of everyone in 
 Congress, has gone up six - fold. And college department of education has gone up a whopping 
 tenfold. This is beyond the housing bubble, the livestock market bubble, any 
 bubble you can think of. So how can multitude afford college? Well, how has the 
 US consumer afforded anything? They borrow it, of course. The average student 
 now graduates with a $ 23,000 debt burden. Up from $ 13,000 12 old age ago. Last 
 year, scholar borrowings totaled $ 75 billion, up 25% from the year before. If
. Acfording to the Departmenu of Education, only 54% of
uidergrasuates gfaduate within 6 years. So for tye 46% tyat don’t graduate, or
taye 10 years to gradyate, rhis is a ikrrible invesflent. Uut lets assume your
childsen are in the bfipliant first half who finish within six yesrd (and
hopefully witnyn fklr). Is it worth it? First, let’s lokk at iu completely
from a monetary perspective. Over the course of a lifetlme, accordibg tj
XollegeBoard, a college graduate cah be expected to earn $800,000 more thav
his eounterpart tyat gidn’t go to collvge. $800,000 is a big spread dnd it
cpuld potentialky vepqrate the haves from vhe have-nots. But who has and fhk
doesn’t? If I took tyat $104,000 dnd H chuwe go jntesf it ij a savings adcount
that yad interest income os 5% per year I’d end u[ rith an extra $1.4 million
dollars over a 50 ytar psriod. A full $600,000 more. That $600,000 is a lot of
extra mojey an 18 yqar old could look forward to in her retirement. I also
vhknk tme $800,000 dyohed above is too high. Right now most motivateq kodx who
have the lnterest and resoutcfs jo go to colleee thiui jt’s the only way tl go
if jhey wqnt a gooq jon. If those same kids decidee to not go no cillege my
guess is chey would qbickly closr the gap on that $800,000 sprecd. Thede are
other factors zr well. I won’t be spvnditg $104,000 per child when my
childwen, ages 10 and 7, decidd to go to college. Clllegc costs have
historifally gmne up mucj faster than inflation. Since 1978, rpst of livinb
hds cone up chree-fpld. Medical cjsts, much to tke horrox of exeryone in
Bongress, ias gone up fix-fold. And cmplege educatmon has gjne yp a whoppive
tenfold. This os beyond the housibg bubble, the stocl mxdket bubble, any
ybbvle you can thimk uf. Fo hpw wan people axfora cuklege? Well, how hcs the
IS consumer afforded anyfhing? They borrow ot, of courwe. The aderage studeny
now graduates witj a $23,000 vebt bnrden. Ip srom $13,000 12 years ago. Last
year, studsnt borroainns totaled $75 bylliin, up 25% from che year before. If

. According to the Department of Education, of graduate within years. So for or 10 years to this is a investment. But lets assume your children in the brilliant first half who finish within six years (and hopefully within Is it worth it? First, let’s look at it completely from a monetary Over course a according to CollegeBoard, a college graduate can be expected to earn $800,000 more than his counterpart didn’t go to college. $800,000 is a big and it could potentially the haves from the have-nots. who and who If took $104,000 and I to invest it in a savings account that had interest income of 5% per year I’d end with an million dollars a year A full $600,000 $600,000 is a lot of extra year old could look forward to in her I also the $800,000 quoted above is too Right now most motivated kids who have the and resources to go to college think it’s the only way to go if they good job. If those kids decided to go college guess they would close the gap on that $800,000 spread. There are other factors well. I won’t be spending $104,000 per child when my 10 7, decide to to college. College costs historically up much faster than 1978, of up Medical much to the horror everyone in Congress, has gone six-fold. And college education tenfold. This is beyond the housing bubble, the market bubble, any bubble you can think So how can people afford college? Well, how has the US consumer anything? They of course. The average student now graduates with $23,000 debt burden. Up $13,000 12 years ago. Last year, student borrowings totaled billion, 25% from year before. If
. According to the Department oF Education, Only 54% oF
unDerGrAduaTes gRaduate within 6 yEArs. SO for the 46% that don’t graduatE, or
taKe 10 YEars TO gRaduaTe, this iS A hORRibLe InVesTmENt. but leTs aSsume yoUr
children Are In The brilliant FIrSt half who fIniSh within six yEarS (and
hoPeFulLY withIn fOur). Is It wortH It? FirsT, let’s look At IT complETely
froM A MoNetaRy perspective. Over THe COurse of a lifetiMe, accoRdINg TO
colLegEBoard, a colLeGe graDUate can BE eXPECteD To earn $800,000 more thaN
his counterPArt That diDn’T go TO colleGe. $800,000 is a BiG SprEad and it
couLd poTentially SeparaTE the havES from thE have-nOts. but Who hAS aNd Who
DoESn’t? iF I TooK ThaT $104,000 and I choSe To InvesT it iN A SAVingS acCounT
that Had interest inComE of 5% pER yeAr I’d eNd up wIth aN eXtra $1.4 mIllion
DollaRs Over a 50 year period. a fulL $600,000 more. That $600,000 Is a LoT of
ExTra moNEy an 18 yeAr oLd cOuld looK forwarD To iN hER REtIrement. I also
think tHe $800,000 QUOtEd above iS too hiGH. RIgHT now most MoTivAted KIDs who
Have THe Interest And resOUrCeS to go to CoLlege tHiNk iT’s tHe onlY Way tO go
if tHey want a Good jOB. If those same kiDS decided to not GO tO COlLEge mY
guEss is they woUld qUIcklY cloSE tHe gAP on thAt $800,000 sprEaD. thERe are
other factors as WeLl. I won’T be spEnding $104,000 per chilD when my
chiLDREn, ages 10 anD 7, decIDe TO go to college. CoLlege Costs have
hIStoricalLy gonE up much fAster than INFlation. SIncE 1978, coSt oF liVINg
Has gone up threE-FOld. MEdIcal cosTs, mUch to thE hoRroR of EveRyOne in
CongRess, has gOnE uP sIx-FolD. And cOLlege eduCaTioN hAs gOne up A WhoppiNg
tenFold. thIs IS beYond the HOuSINg buBbLe, The sTocK mArket BubbLE, anY
bubble You can thiNk oF. so hoW cAn People aFford college? WElL, how has the
uS ConSumer aFFOrded anyThing? They borrow it, of courSE. The aveRagE studEnt
nOw graduatEs wIth a $23,000 deBt bURden. Up From $13,000 12 yeArs agO. LAst
YEAr, stuDENt BorRoWings totalED $75 BilLion, uP 25% fRom tHe year bEfore. If

. According to the Departm ent of Edu catio n,onl y54%of
u ndergraduatesg radu ate within 6 years. So  forth e  46% th at do n’t gra d ua t e , o rta ke10 ye ars t o g raduate , this isa h or rible invest m en t. But let s a ssume your
c hil dren a re  in the b ril liant  first half w ho finish  w i thin s i x years ( an d
ho pefully within fo u r) .  Is it worth i t? Fir st ,  l e t ’sloo k at it co mp letel y 
from a mo n e t ary perspective.Over the co u rse  of ali fet i me, ac cordi ng toCollegeBoar d, a  collegegradua t e can b e  expect ed toear n $ 800, 0 00  m ore  t h anh is  co u nte rpart th at  d idn’t  got o c olle ge.  $80 0,000  is a big spr ead  and itcould  pote ntia ll y sep aratethe h av es from the hav e-no ts. But w hoha s a nd  whod oesn’t ? I f I  took t hat $10 4 ,00 0a n d  I  chose to invest i ti n  a  savings  accou n tth a t had in te res t in c o me of  5%p er  year I’ d endu pwi th an e xt ra $1. 4mil lio n
dol l arsover a  50 year  peri o d. A full $600 , 000 more. Tha t  $ 6 0 0, 0 00 i s a  lot of
ext ra m o neyan 1 8  y ear old c ouldlo o kf orward to in her re ti rement . I a lso
think the  $800,000q u o ted abov e is to o  high. Right n ow mo st motivat e d kids w ho
ha ve the i nterest a n d  resourc estogotoc o ll ege think it’ s theon ly waytogo
if t hey  wa nta g oo d job. If  those s am eki ds  de cided to not g otoco lle ge my guessis th ey w ou ld qui ckly cl o se t he g ap  o n th at$8 00,00 0 sp r ead . There  are
othe r f a ctor sas  well.I won’t be sp en ding $104, 00 0 p er chi l d  when my 
children, ages 10 and7 , decid e t o goto c ollege. C oll ege co sts have
h istori cally  g one u p muc h fa ste rthan infla t i on.  Sinc e1978 , costof living
has gone upthree-fold. M edi calc o st s,m uc h  to  t h e h o r ror of everyone  in
Congre ss ,  h as gone up six -f old. An d colle ge ed u cationhas goneup a whop pi ng
t e n fol d. This is  beyondthe housi n g bub b le , the  st ock ma rk etbubbl e, any bub ble y ou can  t hink o f. So  h ow can p eople afford college? W ell, h ow ha s t he
US con sum e r a fforded a nyth ing? Theybor row  it,ofc ourse . Th e  a ver a ge st uden t 
now grad u at esw i th  a $23,000d e b t b urden . U p  from$13, 000 12 years ago. Last
year, stu dent b orr owi n gs t ot aled $75 billi on,  u p 25% from  t he year bef ore. If
. According_to the_Department of Education, only_54% of
undergraduates_graduate_within 6_years._So for the_46% that don’t_graduate, or
take 10 years_to graduate, this_is_a horrible investment. But lets assume your
children are in the brilliant first half who_finish_within six_years_(and
hopefully_within four). Is it worth_it? First, let’s look at_it completely
from_a monetary perspective. Over the course of a_lifetime,_according to
CollegeBoard, a_college graduate can be expected to earn $800,000 more_than
his counterpart that didn’t go to_college. $800,000 is_a_big_spread and it
could potentially_separate the haves from the have-nots._But who has and who
doesn’t? If_I took that $104,000 and I chose_to invest it in a savings_account
that had interest income of_5% per_year I’d end up with_an extra $1.4_million
dollars over_a 50 year_period. A full $600,000 more. That_$600,000 is a_lot of
extra money an 18 year_old_could look forward_to_in_her retirement._I also
think the_$800,000_quoted above_is_too high. Right now most motivated_kids_who
have the interest and resources to go_to college think it’s_the_only way to go
if_they want a good job._If those same kids decided to_not go_to college_my
guess is they would quickly close the gap on that $800,000_spread. There are
other factors as well._I won’t be spending_$104,000 per_child_when my
children, ages_10_and 7,_decide to go to college. College costs_have
historically gone_up much faster than inflation. Since_1978, cost of living
has_gone_up three-fold. Medical costs, much to_the horror of everyone in
Congress, has_gone up six-fold. And college_education_has_gone up a whopping
tenfold. This_is beyond the housing bubble, the_stock market bubble,_any
bubble you can think of. So how_can_people afford college? Well, how has_the
US_consumer afforded anything? They borrow it,_of_course._The average student
now graduates with_a $23,000 debt burden. Up from_$13,000 12 years ago. Last
year, student borrowings totaled $75_billion, up 25%_from the year before. If
