Have you ever thought if your college education was worth the cost of admission? Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
NEW YORK — Erik Peterson started questioning the worth of college right about the time he graduated.
Faced with a lack of better options, Peterson moved back in with his parents after earning a degree in computer science from the University of California, San Diego.
For the first few months, Peterson made some extra cash by selling used copies of books from his parents’ personal library on Amazon.com.
Peterson, who’s 27 and now works as a software engineer, has more than made up for lost time. But the student debt stays with him to this day. It still prevents him from moving out and getting his own place.
“The debt picks at your brain,” says Peterson. He took out more than $85,000 in student loans in order to finish his degree. He’s already paid back about $10,000. “For me, college has been worth it, but it does have a cost and if you come out owing money, it holds you back from starting the rest of your life.”
Peterson isn’t the only one weighing the value of college. Recently, the skepticism surrounding higher education has grown louder and more vocal.
Many attribute it to the lackluster economy and the rising cost of college, combined with more graduates saddling themselves with increasing amounts of debt. Whatever the reason, more and more are asking: Is college worth it?
