Today’s society seems to have the expectation for high school graduates to attend college. Research is showing this with an increasing college enrollment rate following high school. More high school graduates are going to college, but 1 in 5 of them are leaving before graduation.

The college experience, as it is many times referred to, can arguably be a valuable one. Attending college can be a good time for a teenager to transition into being an adult. Furthermore, it allows a person to learn more about themselves, their interests, and other people. Attending a university is just generally a good time to learn a little about life.

There is nothing wrong with attending college or in some instances not even going at all. However, there are clear issues with the rising costs to attend. According to a report by the College Board, the price of college has increased 4.2% steadily over the last few decades. The result is a 4-year degree costing $40,000 or more not including books, living, and additional expenses.

The result of the increasing cost for going to college is leaving students in large amounts of debt following graduation or even many times a liability without the completion of a degree. This debt can have serious life-changing consequences. Saving for college and completing it without the obligation of paying back large student loans should be a plan for every person with the goal of completing a college degree.