College in America Blog

When college was cheap and few students matriculated, it was common for parents to send their offspring to the halls of higher learning to “find themselves” or “learn how to learn.” I knew of a family who sent their daughter to college to snag a husband.   Back in the day, when JFK was president, […]

When John F. Kennedy was president, our country was a much different place than it is today, and that includes “higher education.” Here’s how college worked back in the day:  Almost any high school graduate could find a college or university that would accept them.  Almost no one (only 7%) went on to college after […]

Most high school students don’t have the high level of linguistics and math aptitudes to make a success of college. Only 30% of the high school graduates who matriculate, graduate and score a well-paying, professional job. However, if you think Junior is “college material” and have aspirations of having him earn a four-year degree, the […]

For decades, college graduates enjoyed higher earnings and greater wealth than individuals who did not graduate from college. This circumstance came to be known as the “college premiums.”   The college income premium is the extra income earned by a family whose head has a college degree over the income earned by an otherwise similar family whose […]

I’m a big Ramsey fan when it comes to managing personal debt. I believe most families who find themselves buried in debt would benefit from following Dave’s 7 Baby Steps. However, when it comes to advice on college, his counsel could use a bit of a tune up.  Student Loans  The federal student loan system […]

I live in a small, affluent, Midwestern city. Eighty percent of the local high school graduates intend to matriculate, with visions of a well-paying, professional white-collar job in a comfy air-conditioned office. Nationwide, that number is forty percent. Eighty percent or forty percent, most of these students are making a huge mistake.  Supply (college grads) […]

Most students who enroll in a community college (80%) intend to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Their plan is to save money by: Living at home and commuting. Earning their credits in the required general education classes at a bargain price. This strategy is called the 2+2 Model. Unfortunately, this […]

When JFK was president, few high school graduates (7%) went on to college. College was rigorous. The students who tended to go on to college were the smart kids—the top 10% was the unwritten rule of thumb. If a student managed to graduate from college in something or other, it was assumed they were reasonably […]

There is an ad running on television where a crusty old fart sweeps a bunch of books off his desk and growls, “Let me be direct, you are doing TV wrong.”  Well, here’s another crusty old fart telling you, “You are doing college wrong,” specifically, you are going about choosing a college in the wrong way. […]

 Nobody has explained to you just how risky student loans can be:  Most student borrowers don’t have a four-year financial plan.  Most student borrowers don’t have a career plan with a targeted starting salary.  The federal student loan system is a trap for the unwary. Almost any high school graduate can find a college or […]