The Hamilton Project:  Regardless of the Cost, College Still Matters:

There is ongoing debate about the rising cost of college and whether that investment is still worthwhile in today’s economy. In this month’s employment analysis, The Hamilton Project examined rising college costs over the last three decades and compared those costs with the benefits one receives from a college degree. The findings showthat while college is 50% more expensive today than it was 30 years ago, the increase to lifetime earnings that a college degree brings is 75% higher today. Although the cost of college is growing, the benefits of college—and, by extension, the cost of not going to college—are growing even faster. The returns to college attendance are much higher than other investments, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate.