Determining its "Worth"

College Name:	Cost of Tuition:	Average Financial Aid Package
Stanford University	$53,529	$58,633
San Diego State University	$7,510	$9,300
University of California, Davis	$14,442	$25, 819
American River College	$1,416	---- *

Now that we have looked at the costs of attendance per college system and possible average financial aid package each college may award their students, ask yourself this:

How do students pay for college???

Possible answers include:

- Parents and/or other family who can cover the costs

-Scholarships 

-Student loans

-Part-time jobs/employment 

After looking at possible ways of covering college, it college "worth it" for you? One way to find out if a college degree is worth it is to look at the potential job salary that college degree may bring! As the video from the first page mentioned, the cost of getting a college degree may be worth it as the potential salary might be higher than the total cost of your college education. In other words, you will be investing in your potential future income by going to college. 

 

Cost Vs. Benefit

How much you make once you finish college depends on various factors like what program you studied while in college and what internships or work experience you may already have within your field of work. Though there are pros and cons with obtaining a college degree but when debating on whether to actually attend college, look at the whole picture and not just a college degree. For example, colleges offer more than just higher education, they offer different student programs and organizations for you to socialize and network in. 

Here's a list of potential reasons as to why students may not want to get a college degree:

- "I can't afford it. / College is too expensive."

- "I don't know what to study."

- "My grades are not the best./ I think college would be too difficult for me. "

These statements have been said by a number of people who may find that college is not a good fit for them. Though it may be true that college is not for everyone, but we do encourage that you at least give it a try.

Here are possible reasons why you should consider going to college:

- "There are more job opportunities and employment security if I have a college degree."

- "I want to learn a valuable skill and/or expand my knowledge in a certain field."

- "I want to make lasting connections with those in college."

College may be a worthwhile experience for you if you want to gain employment in a specific work field like engineering, business, health care, and education. Even if you are undecided with what you want to study, you still have time in college to really explore your options. At the same time, you have the chance to meet new people on campus who can be great resources to help you find employment in the near future. So really consider if a college education is a good financial investment for you! 

Click "Next" to continue the May workshop.