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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with a bachelor\u2019s degree is roughly half that for those with just a high school diploma. The implication is clear: the better education a person has, the better their chances of finding successful employment.<\/span><\/p>\n But college isn\u2019t cheap. Whether you\u2019re a high school student with big plans for yourself or a new parent with big plans for your child, it\u2019s important to start building up a college fund sooner rather than later. It\u2019s a daunting task, one that takes a lot of forethought and, often, a good deal of sacrifice.<\/span><\/p>\n Before anyone can help you learn <\/span>how to save for college<\/span><\/a>, though, it\u2019s important you understand why saving for college is so important.<\/span><\/p>\n As mentioned above, college isn\u2019t cheap. You may think you know that already, but you may not realize just how expensive it is. According to <\/span>recent U.S. News data<\/span><\/a>, the average yearly cost of attending a public in-state college is $10,116, the yearly cost of a public out-of-state school is $22,577, and the yearly cost of a private college is $36,801. Between 2019 and 2020, most college tuitions increased by about 3-4%, a trend not likely to reverse any time soon.<\/span><\/p>\n Why is a college education so expensive? In part it\u2019s because of how important they are in ensuring good employment opportunities. This increases demand, which in turn increases cost. More students requires hiring more instructors and other employees. And state funding programs simply can\u2019t keep up.<\/span><\/p>\n Thankfully, for many students who otherwise would not be able to attend college, there are numerous state and federal financial aid programs available, most notably grants and work-study programs. But just as many students find themselves in an uncomfortable gray area: their family\u2019s income is too high to qualify them for aid, but too low to afford tuition out of pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, some economists believe in an idea called \u201c<\/span>the Bennett hypothesis<\/span><\/a>,\u201d an idea put forth in 1987 by then-Secretary of Education William Bennett. While still debated in political circles, Bennett\u2019s theory\u2014which blames colleges for inflating tuition costs expressly to take advantage of federal financial aid\u2014may have merit. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for every dollar the government adds to financial aid programs, the average tuition increases by 65 cents.<\/span><\/p>\n For students who don\u2019t qualify for other forms of financial aid, the most common option comes in the form of federal, state, or private loans<\/a>. While the first two are significantly preferable to the latter, though, the truth is that none of them are very good options in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n The main reason is the most obvious one. That is, student loans by design cost more money than they provide. It\u2019s advantageous to provide student loans, because growing interest rates mean that the loan provider<\/a> will likely make all their money back later, plus a tidy profit. You or your loved one, meanwhile, will be stuck paying off that interest for decades. The <\/span>Department of Education estimates<\/span><\/a> that, on average, it takes students more than 20 years to get free of student debt.<\/span><\/p>\n Putting money aside for a college fund now might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it can actually save a lot of time, stress, and cash in the future. Don\u2019t wait. Start saving today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with a bachelor\u2019s degree is roughly half that for those with just a high school diploma. The implication is clear: the better education a person has, the better their chances of finding successful employment. But college isn\u2019t cheap. Whether you\u2019re a high school … <\/p>\nA College Education is Expensive<\/span><\/h2>\n
Financial Aid is Not a Sure Thing<\/span><\/h2>\n
Student Loans Are a Burden<\/span><\/h2>\n