College remains an excellent investment
by Pam Shockley-Zalabak, chancellor, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Almost daily, the news headlines are cause for concern as layoffs are announced and budgets slashed both in private industry and within local and state government.
Families who dream of sending their children to college, or adults seeking to complete an education , may wonder if this version of the American dream will go the way of their retirement account, their college savings plan, or even the dream of owning a home.
To those families, I am emphatic and determined in saying college is possible and investing in a college education is an installment on the future of both individuals and communities.
Individuals with college degrees will earn $1 million more in their lifetimes than someone without a post-high school education. Additionally, as our nation struggles with record unemployment, the most recent Bureau of Labor statistics show that college graduates have unemployment rates of four percent while individuals without a high school diploma have an unemployment rate that is more than three times higher.
Education remains a solid investment in a time when there seems to be no such thing.
Too often, media report the costs of the nation’s most exclusive colleges and universities in their headlines. While technically accurate, the numbers are misleading and can dash the dreams of those who seek a college education and the benefits it brings.
Nationally, more than three-quarters of students who enroll in college attend either a public two-year community college or a four-year public state college or university. Southern Colorado is fortunate to have several local community colleges in addition to state colleges and a regional comprehensive research university in the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
At these institutions, costs are within reach of Coloradoans who desire a high-quality education at affordable prices.
At the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, we pledge to make college possible for low and moderate-income students by packaging loans, state and federal grants, private scholarships and providing on-campus employment. This effort allows students to concentrate on their dream of earning a college degree.
As a public university, we make this commitment as part of our mission.
So, how much does college cost?
At UCCS, a Colorado resident pursuing one of 30 bachelor’s degrees will pay, on average, $6,500 for two semesters of full-time academic course work at an institution that is considered among the best in the Western United States.
In contrast, these are other costs that a typical family or individual may face
While child or nursing home care often is not an option for families, I explain to students that buying a new car or investing in their education is the difference between investing in an asset that will decline in value versus one that will grow throughout a lifespan.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs wants to be a university that supports dreams. College is possible. UCCS is an excellent choice.