Are you financially better off than your parents were at your age?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I disagree. A college degree is still the best single thing that will in the long term, improve your quality of life. It's not a guarantee and its not the same as you say pre-2000. But education is why I'm not poor like my Dad and Mom's families.

When my son came to us and says he wants to be an astrophysicist, I say I'll figure out a way to pay for the freight. He will never be rich in that field and the money you pay for that type of degree might not be a good return on investment but that's what you do as parents, one of your main jobs, encourage and help your kids achieve their dreams.

For many, perhaps most, you're right. A 4 year degree is probably the way to go. But like I said, it's not the only way to go and I feel like the educational system stigmatizes anyone that doesn't choose to go that route.

And remember, I just said there are diminishing returns - not no returns.

It's just so hard to wealth-build at all in your 20s if you're lugging around 50K plus in student loan debt and you're dealing with a non-specialized degree that gives you an entry level position of around $30-40K. You can't really even think about home ownership at that point so you're not building equity. Your interest rates are generally in the 5-8% range on student loan debt so it's either a higher monthly payment or a pretty long term. It's just a nasty thing to have hanging around your neck and makes even the march to middle class substantially more difficult.

I'm not saying that college shouldn't be encouraged. I am saying, however, that for many people it shouldn't be the only consideration and to my eyes, that's the only route that guidance counselors and other secondary ed employees will push you towards. And heaven help you if you're a parent that encourages a child that doesn't choose that path.

For your son, Astrophysics may be the proper dream. For others, it could be wanting to open your own shop or even work outdoors. It may be photography. It may be any number of things that your degree doesn't do anything to get you in the door for but perhaps a low-wage apprenticeship would. Those kids are going to be steered away from that and end up in a sort of indentured servitude whereby they have to put in 10 years at a desk in the first job they could get because suddenly the balances were coming due on those subsidized, deferred loans they took out to get through a 4 year program they didn't really want to go into at all.