As I begin to send my paycheck (and soul) via direct deposit to Sallie Mae every month, I can't help but shed a few tears thinking of everything I could do with my monthly student loan payments. For those of us who are feeling the affects of rising college education costs, here's a few fun stats for you.
In 1971, the average tuition for a private, four-year college was $10,742 (in today's money).
In 2015, private four-year universities, like the one I attended, averaged $32,405.
Multiply the cost by the four years needed to complete your degree and the total bill in 1971 was $42,968, roughly three semesters in 2015. The heartbreaking bill for students today averages $129,620. While scholarships are available to assist students in this elephant sized financial burden, stats show that there are more scholarships available in terms of numbers, but the total amount of money given out is less than before. See the issue?
If you're already in the dumps about student loans, you may want to stop reading here. As I watch my second student loan payment clear my bank account, much in the same way it will on the 15th of each month for the next 10 years of my life, I can't help but wonder what else I could've used my $129,620 on.
1. This $109,000 house
This five bedroom, two bath, historic home in central Kansas could be mine. It features new cabinets, original woodwork, a sunroom, fireplace, a two car garage, and an extra apartment above the garage that can be rented out. After I buy the home, I still have $20,620 that could be used on furniture, repairs, and upgrades. I could use it to put a pool and waterslide in the backyard.
2. A 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder
This yellow $129,950 Lamborghini is just $300 more than my education. If you want a more practical comparison, you could purchase 5.5 brand new 2017 Chevrolet Equinoxes. However, after my education purchases, my transportation budget looks more like I should be purchasing a motor scooter or a dusting off my Nikes.
3. Several International Trips
In 2016, I traveled to Athens, Greece and Instanbul, Turkey. A similar 11-day trip including hotel, airfare, food, attractions, and 'fluff' money costs $4,000. With my $129,620, I could travel internationally and back 32 times assuming the cost for each location is similar. To put that in perspective I could cross off France, Spain, Portugal, England, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Finland, Norway, China, Russia, Egypt, Jerusalem, Jordan, South Africa, Morocco, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Italy, Poland, Madagascar, Romania, and India each for 11 days. I could essentially see every World Wonder and then some.
4. Charity
I could have spent my money to feed 12,962 hungry African children for three weeks each! This money could also have gone to churches, homeless shelters, schools, basic needs programs, food banks, and etc. The amount of amount money spent on my education is considered a fortune to some and could be put to do some good.
5. 192 Pairs of Louboutins
Louboutins are the epitome of a shoe splurge. They are glorified on movies and TV Shows, including Sex in the City. The red sole gives away the name printed on the shoe and the excessive price tag of $675. I could buy 192 pairs.
6. Retirement
According to the trusty and always accurate Google (ha), the average cost of living in the United States is $28,474 per year for a single person. Divide my education by that number, and I could live 4.5 years in retirement off of that expense alone. This means I could happily be playing Pitch in the local senior center with my buddy Velma with no worries for nearly five years. Sorry Velma, no can do, I'm still depositing minimal amounts into my IRA.
While I'm fortunate, like many modern students, to have family support in paying for my education, it would be a lot easier for me to contribute to society economically if I didn't face my small mortgage payment of a student loan bill each month for the next 10 years. I am not alone in this burden. Each year more and more students are saddled with massive amounts of debt before they can have their first salaried job. It's a problem that is looking for a solution, and fast.
