Is College a Lousy Investment?: Negotiating the Hidden Cost of Higher Education discusses many of the economic misconceptions about earning a college degree. While it is widely believed that attending college guarantees wealth and success, students, concerned parents, and higher education professionals have neglected calculating the full-range of short-term and long-terms costs. Our work illustrates how the promotion of education merely as a commodity come at a high price for the individual and society. We argue how the idea of ‘investment’ can be expanded from a short-sighted view to engage a broader, more holistic rationale for higher education from which students can expect a full return on investment.
Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah is an education director of workforce development in Buffalo, New York. She also is an adjunct professor in the sociology department at Niagara University.Seneca Vaught is an associate professor of History and Interdisciplinary Studies at Kennesaw State University who combines his expertise in policy, teaching, and social entrepreneurship to address contemporary problems.
ForewordPrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1: Why does College Cost So Much? The High Price of Higher LearningChapter 2: What happens when you Major for Money? The Guild vs. (Inter) Disciplinary Mentality Chapter 3: Why are American Universities So Expensive? Getting What You Pay ForChapter 4: Who Pays the Most for College? At the Heart of InequalityChapter 5: What is Your College Education Worth? The Danger of Investment Mentalities and Jargon on Higher LearningChapter 6: Why it’s Important to Invest in Yourself? Strategies for Success when the College Bubble BurstsConclusionBibliographyAbout the Authors
Choosing a college has become a complex calculation. The authors clearly understand what makes for a great educational experience and provide a clear-eyed discussion of the costs of higher education and, especially helpful, of the many and varied benefits. They also present concrete strategies for success as students make this most important investment in themselves.
