I agree with what your saying with (1) catch. The price of an education is outpacing wages across the board. Take my world. Most engineers out of school without any assistance have about $120K-$130k (all in cost) at a tier 1 university. Average salary for that individual is $60k-$70k.

So look at these numbers: for a single recent grad, which I would say is a fair snapshot

Undergrad - $125k (principal) @ 4% yoy for 10 years is $1266/monthly
Housing in major metro area (1br apt) - $1200
Utilities - $200
Food - $300 to $600 I’ll use $450 as median
Gas - $200
WiFi - $50 to $100 I’ll use $75 as median
Car insurance (liability from reputable company) - $75
Health insurance (assuming you work at a good company) - $125
10% in 401k/retirement - $542


Take home = $3656
Cost to live = $3591
Delta of +$65

If you’re a teacher making $45k your in hole and screwed. I didn’t factor any entertainment or gym membership or extras like cable tv, hunting, fishing, etc. for the past 20 years higher education has averaged a 4% yoy increase in tuition costs.

We are at about the 6 trillion dollar mark in Covid relief bills. Money that is not in the treasury, this will be our great great great grand childrens future tax liability. So what is another trillion dollars here and another trillion dollars over there? It is only paper money ,it has no real value. A good education is an investment in the future. Let's pay it now, so our great great great grandchildren will be well invested.

Dog............. That's how I went to college..............
And they, paid me...... Plus, the V.A. got me a job, on campus......................
And an endless supply, of pretty girls..............
I cried like a 3rd grader, when I graduated..............

Anyone considering a career in engineering should be able to work numbers that simple and decide what’s worth what. If they continue down that path, it’s on them. If they actually want to work for a living, then they can avoid the entire fiasco and do just as well.

Kids have proven to be dumbfucks. I mean I see it daily. My sister has a history degree from Baylor. For [censored] sake really???

That’s hilarious, “actually want to work”. Get over yourself. myself and other engineers I work with “work” for a living. Does getting up at 4:45 and leaving work at 7pm that’s my normal schedule. 90 % of the time working thru lunch not count in your book? I’ve been a hand on tools and I can tell you that despite what every pipefitter or boilermaker or craftsman thinks it takes engineer to complete the process. Both are needed!

Yes, I know rig welders that do very well. Some make significantly more than me, but they are never home. Never see their children, are on wife #6 or have to go to Louisiana because they can’t legally get married anymore because they’ve been married too many times in Texas. Their bodies are so beat up after 25 years and their eyes are shot.

having a career you enjoy is priceless. That isn’t me advocating for worthless degrees. The world needs teachers, Dr’s, engineers, accountants, etc as much as it needs the men and women that get it done in the field.

Kids have proven to be dumbfucks. I mean I see it daily. My sister has a history degree from Baylor. For [censored] sake really???

I agree with what your saying with (1) catch. The price of an education is outpacing wages across the board. Take my world. Most engineers out of school without any assistance have about $120K-$130k (all in cost) at a tier 1 university. Average salary for that individual is $60k-$70k.

So look at these numbers: for a single recent grad, which I would say is a fair snapshot

Undergrad - $125k (principal) @ 4% yoy for 10 years is $1266/monthly
Housing in major metro area (1br apt) - $1200
Utilities - $200
Food - $300 to $600 I’ll use $450 as median
Gas - $200
WiFi - $50 to $100 I’ll use $75 as median
Car insurance (liability from reputable company) - $75
Health insurance (assuming you work at a good company) - $125
10% in 401k/retirement - $542


Take home = $3656
Cost to live = $3591
Delta of +$65

If you’re a teacher making $45k your in hole and screwed. I didn’t factor any entertainment or gym membership or extras like cable tv, hunting, fishing, etc. for the past 20 years higher education has averaged a 4% yoy increase in tuition costs.

When my wife and I graduated college we had an approximately $100K in school debt combined, both of us have undergrad and grad degrees, thanks to obummer at about a 7% interest rate and a 20 year maturity. We started out making combined between the two of us about $60k a year. Our student debt was paid off in less than 5 years and in that time we bought a house and new vehicles. If people would learn to do without the "little things" for a bit they would see how much they can save. If people were really interested in paying off student debt they could and would.

That’s hilarious, “actually want to work”. Get over yourself. myself and other engineers I work with “work” for a living. Does getting up at 4:45 and leaving work at 7pm that’s my normal schedule. 90 % of the time working thru lunch not count in your book? I’ve been a hand on tools and I can tell you that despite what every pipefitter or boilermaker or craftsman thinks it takes engineer to complete the process. Both are needed!

Yes, I know rig welders that do very well. Some make significantly more than me, but they are never home. Never see their children, are on wife #6 or have to go to Louisiana because they can’t legally get married anymore because they’ve been married too many times in Texas. Their bodies are so beat up after 25 years and their eyes are shot.

having a career you enjoy is priceless. That isn’t me advocating for worthless degrees. The world needs teachers, Dr’s, engineers, accountants, etc as much as it needs the men and women that get it done in the field.