8/1/22: We have 529 plans for our kids, but with the market in the tank, I'm worried about paying for college over the next few years.
4/7/22: On May 1, the pause on federal student loan payments is set to expire. I joined CBS Mornings to discuss the likelihood that it will get extended again and what borrowers need to do to prepare. We also share some advice for families looking into financial aid.
1/27/22: Should I roll the dice and wait for my student loans to be wiped off the books, or just pay off the debt in one fell swoop and start investing my money?
1/20/22: Given how crazy the cost of college is in the U.S., should we consider moving to Canada for some cheaper options?
Because the focus was always on saving for retirement, we don't have anything saved for college, which is right around the corner. What are our options?
Does there come a time when it's okay to transition from saving for retirement to saving for college?
The cost of college makes for frightening headlines. The outstanding balance of student loans is more than $1.5 trillion nationally, while tuition continues to rise. And on the heels of a pandemic that nearly dismantled the traditional college experience, we have to wonder: Is college really worth it?
To help answer that question, we're joined this weekend by economist Beth Akers, whose recent book, Making College Pay: An Economist Explains How to Make a Smart Bet on Higher Education, shows how to improve your odds by making smart choices about where to enroll, what to study, and how to pay for it
It’s true that college is expensive, but once we see higher education for what it is, an investment in future opportunities, job security, and earnings, a different picture emerges: The average college graduate earns an additional million dollars over their career (compared to those who stopped their education after high school), and on average, two- and four-year schools deliver a 15 percent return on investment, double that of the stock market.
Yet these outcomes are not guaranteed. Rather, they hinge upon where and how you opt to invest your tuition dollars.
Simply put, the real problem with college isn’t the cost, it’s the risk that your investment might not pay off.
Have a money question? Email us, ask jill [at] jill on money dot com.
Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.
"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.
The cost of college makes for frightening headlines. The outstanding balance of student loans is more than $1.5 trillion nationally, while tuition continues to rise. And on the heels of a pandemic that nearly dismantled the traditional college experience, we have to wonder: Is college really worth it?
To help answer that question, we're joined this weekend by economist Beth Akers, whose recent book, Making College Pay: An Economist Explains How to Make a Smart Bet on Higher Education, shows how to improve your odds by making smart choices about where to enroll, what to study, and how to pay for it
It’s true that college is expensive, but once we see higher education for what it is, an investment in future opportunities, job security, and earnings, a different picture emerges: The average college graduate earns an additional million dollars over their career (compared to those who stopped their education after high school), and on average, two- and four-year schools deliver a 15 percent return on investment, double that of the stock market.
Yet these outcomes are not guaranteed. Rather, they hinge upon where and how you opt to invest your tuition dollars.
Simply put, the real problem with college isn’t the cost, it’s the risk that your investment might not pay off.
Have a money question? Email us, ask jill [at] jill on money dot com.
Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.
"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.