13 years. Elementary school, middle school, and high school. Come senior year, students are ready to finally get out.
Most choose to pursue secondary education and apply to college but taking that next step feels like the beginning of a whole new life. When kids turn 18, they move out, and they no longer rely on their parents to take an active role in their schooling.
Freedom. Almost.
Yet, the sweet glimpse of independence seen in the reflection of the “Submitted!” screen on the Commonapp website is quickly clouded by the expensive shadow of tuition, room and board, and meal plans.
Between the direct costs of attending college and the additional associated fees for books, supplies, transportation, and daily living expenses, the Education Data Initiative estimates that the average annual tuition cost for public 4-year programs has increased by 197.4% since 1963. This rapid growth equates to an increase of approximately 3.63% a year since 2010.
Total costs vary depending on the school’s notoriety and whether it is a public or private institution, but, on average, the EDI states the cost of college to be $38,270 in the United States. Most feel the demands set for the cost of higher education are relentless and not only affect college-bound high school graduates and their future finances, but their family’s lives as well.
Senior Joselyn Jimenez points out that the cost of merely a year of tuition rivals that of the average annual income of Americans, especially when considering the increases in price of out-of-state tuition or private institutions, which often boast superior instruction, guidance, and preparation for the real world.
Thus, students of Waterford High who desire the best education possible face the same financial struggles as college-hopefuls world-wide, and their troubles are continuing to rise.
Scholarships and student loans can lend a much needed helping hand to students hoping for financial aid with their expenses, but many students still worry significantly about the implications of their education on their families.
Senior Lilah Colonis states she feels her options are either to “go into debt or put financial strain on [her] parents.” Undergraduate enrollment has steadily climbed to near pre-pandemic levels and, as such, many families have multiple children who plan to attend college, which only adds to the financial strain.
Colonis adds that just because her parents are both employed, does not mean that “they are able or willing to spend thousands of dollars each year on [her] education,” which is a common sentiment seen throughout the country.
Undergraduate programs are a substantial source of financial burden for those desiring to attend any college or university; however, postsecondary education is commonly acknowledged as pivotal to obtain an occupation in one’s chosen field.
People often debate if college tuition is fair for what students receive in return, and students of Waterford High have conflicting views on the matter, often offering fence-straddling answers.
Joselyn Jimenez states that, while “most jobs do require an advanced degree,” it’s still “insane” that people are expected to take on unimaginable amounts of debt just to attempt to get a non-guaranteed job. Jimenez feels the probability of even getting a job after postsecondary education can dim the potential prospects of receiving further education.
The costs of college can serve as a consideration to the institutions one applies to, which could be helpful when looking through seemingly endless college options, but, more often than not, merely limits the level of education one can receive based on their financial capabilities.
Colonis speaks to the limitations that are placed due to the oftentimes unreasonable costs of college, stating the first step of her college search was to narrow the colleges she considered to those she could “realistically afford”.
Regardless of the various factors comprising college expenses, it is important to consider every aspect of such an ever-changing, multifaceted matter.
