College is expensive, and becoming more and more of a necessity. Everywhere you turn, newspapers, online job boards, or even hearing of an opening on the radio, it says degree preferred’. Many times the company is simply looking for an Associate’s degree, and not necessarily in any certain field.
On top of the education one will receive, a degree also shows a prospective employer that the applicant has learned responsibility. It shows that you have the drive and the desire to succeed in everything you do.
College education is probably in the top three reasons of why you should assume debt, being beat out only by a home and a vehicle. Those who hold a college degree are likely to make at least one million dollars more over a lifetime than those who do not.
Look at college as an investment, because that is really what it is. You are investing in your future, and yielding a high return. The debt incurred by college tuition and other fees associated to college can be high, but it can be moderated as well.
There are grants available by almost every state for almost every major. Grants do not have to be repaid and should be the first avenue pursued when finding college money.
Scholarships are the next way to alleviate college debt. There are literally millions of scholarships available for a million different reasons. Everything from the town in which you were raised to your heritage can land you a scholarship. Every little bit counts, and not all scholarships are high dollar ones.
Now for the loans. Student loans are often deferred until after college graduation. Assuming one is able to find employment and has incurred no other debt, it is not that bad to be repaying a student loan. Most college graduates have minimal expenses as they have learned to tough it out in college on little money.
Other student loans are repayable immediately. This is the best way to fund your college education and invest in your future. College life can be hectic, but it shouldn’t be a party. Taking on a part time job to earn extra cash is not rare, and many college students will work full time to help cover costs.
Working these part time jobs can give you a head start on your debt, and maybe even pay off one of those loans before you ever get your degree. As with all debt, repaying more than the minimum is a great way to pay it off faster.
There are not very many students who can go to college without incurring debt. Tuition is expensive and so are the books. Finding a college close to home where you do not have to stay in a dorm room is a great way to minimize your debt while still getting your valuable education.
Obtaining loans for college and applying payments while still in college is a great start to learning financial responsibility. Students entering college are most times still children and have not normally been responsible for paying for certain things in life.
On the other hand, parents should not incur massive amounts of debt for their children to go to college. Many parents do, and will continue, to incur substantial debt for the college education of their children. While I pat them on the back for investing in the future of their child, I would not advise a parent to obtain all the college debt.
Parents can obtain student loans for their children in which a certain percentage is allocated to them for repayment, and the rest to the student. This is a nice way to alleviate overall debt for both parties and is highly recommended.
Taking a second mortgage out on the house or taking a home equity line is not ideal for a college education, however. As a parent or a student you would not want to lose something that is considered the number one need of all humans, your housing.
If the debt is controlled, as well as the spending, there is not one single reason not to take on some debt to get educated. You will land a better job, in a field you are interested in, and have a better quality of life in the future. Some employers will even reimburse a portion of your tuition as a benefit of your employment.
The question should not be whether or not one should take on debt for a college education. It should be how much debt is okay to incur for that education and your future stability.