Investing in Higher Education

Higher education is one of the most important investments individuals can make for themselves and for our country. Many students access student loans to help finance their education, and last year federal student loans helped 9 million Americans to make that investment in their futures. Typically, that investment pays off, with bachelor's degree recipients earning $1 million more in their lifetime and associate's degree recipients earning $360,000 more, compared to high school graduates. Society also benefits from these investments through such mechanisms as higher tax revenues, improvements in health, higher rates of volunteering and voting, and lower levels of criminal behavior. At the same time too many Americans feel that college may be financially out of reach and are concerned about rising student loan debt. Student loan debt can be especially burdensome for those who do not graduate or who attend schools that do not deliver a quality education. However, unmanageable debt is not the only issue facing current and former students. Some individuals who could benefit from a high quality postsecondary education do not apply and enroll in college, under-investing in education and shortchanging their future.