At the ripe age of 18, you are ready to be pushed from your family's nest and sent off to college. Are you ready to fly, though? College is an investment that not too many are sure pays off. Is college worth it? When pondering the simple question many aren't sure. One argument for it is that you have to if you want to make more and get a better job, but that may not necessarily be true.

Wages go down, unemployment goes up! As new statistics and articles are published to be college students are wondering if the debt pays off. I have personally heard stories about how some people did amazing after college and they are grateful for the experience but I have heard others say they are in debt and going nowhere. Although it does matter what you do with your degree sometimes people just get unlucky. In an article by Heidi Shierholz she states that “...hourly wages for young college-educated men in 2000 were $22.75, but that dropped by almost a full dollar to $21.77 by 2010” (Shierholz). Americans pay around $30,000 a year for college, before financial aid, scholarships, etc. If the wage is only going to drop, then why put ourselves through this financial burden? Not only is the wage dropping but unemployment is on the rise. Shierholz states that unemployment is, “...expected to remain above 8% well into 2014, it will likely be many years before young college graduates- or any workers- see substantial wage growth” (Shierholz). It is a scary thought to be in thousands of dollars in debt and not have more than a part-time job to pay it off. When applying to college the idea of wealth and a good job is imagined, but it seems as though years of debt is reality.

Education is a very large investment that is a gamble. Where someone goes in life is completely up to him/her, college isn't a guaranteed wealthy life with a high-end job. With this being said sometimes the investment of college just leaves one in a hole of debt. At age 18 aren't we a little young to be in so much debt? Ben Wieder states in his article “Their Fellowship Pays 24 Talented Students 100,000 Not to Attend College”, “Students today are taking on more debt, and recently tightened bankruptcy laws make it more difficult to shake that debt” (Wieder). Not only are students buried to their neck in debt but the last option of bankruptcy is even a bit out of reach. For some, an education after high school can be very positive, but for others, it just might not work out.

On the other hand, college does have the ability to bring positivity to one's life. Knowing you went the extra mile to better yourself can be a mighty accomplishment. For some, a college degree comes with a sense of pride. According to David Leonhardt “...education seems to make people happier and healthier” (Leonhardt). Having an education can make someone happier, I agree, even if he/she didn't get the job of their dreams. A feeling of self-accomplishment can be all you need. He also states, “Education helps people do higher-skilled work, get jobs with higher paying companies, or open their own business” (Leonhardt). Self- satisfaction and a drive to succeed can be all you need to do well in the world and sometimes a college degree really helps to push that drive.

College is an investment of time and of money. Many things can make college a negative experience but in the end, it really comes down to the person. The price tag on college is discouraging and many do well without a college education. It is helpful to get a view of the world before being forced into a major. A college education isn't needed to do well, a drive for success is. Without a drive, a degree is just as good as not having one. College or not, the choice is yours. Are you ready?