How much is college actually worth?

The cost of college has gone up considerably over the past couple decades. What's strange to see is how different college can cost from one school to another. Go to an Ivy League or top private school and expect to pay over $30,000 a year. Go to a community college and transfer to a four year state college, and (only considering tuition, not room and board), and you probably won't spend $30,000 for all 4 years in tuition and fees.

How can one school charge $30,000 a year when a state school is charging about $6,000 a year or less? How does that make sense? Are the more expensive schools really that much better? Are those going to a state school getting an inferior education?

State schools are cheaper than private schools, but this doesn't mean they are of any less quality. The reason why they are cheaper is because the state colleges get money from the government which allows them to charge you less.

If you went to a public elementary school and public middle school and high school, your educators received money from the government. This is just how it is set up with college except it costs a little more for them to run a college, which is why they charge you tuition. Private schools get no government funding.

When you go to college, you will get what you put into it. Even beyond the price, you will learn more if you take part in your classes, study, join associations and clubs, and decide that you'll learn. Don't use price to help you decide how good an education is. Sometimes the more expensive colleges are worse but charge more because they waste money on needless 'cosmetic' things.

First, decide your career path and research that department in the colleges you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in business, ask around at employers to see which schools they get a lot of employees from. Ask alumni what they thought of their college and look at reviews that rate schools based on the value of the education they are offering.

Never rely on what you 'hear around' at school from other classmates or what people at other colleges think of other schools. Gossip is rarely reliable and often students at other colleges are much more partial to the school they are attending, especially if they were denied admission to the school you are interested in. You want real opinions from actual students and alumni.

Money isn't everything. Search for the school with the best education and programs. Going to a more expensive school won't get you a better job, but it will increase your loans causing a decrease in your salary for many years until you are able to pay them off for good.