Why College Is a Huge Expense That’s Still Worth It — For Now

College costs have notably increased from a decade or so ago — after adjusting for inflation the cost of an average year of undergraduate study has risen by more than $5,000 since 2007. And as higher education expenses have gone up, student loan debt has followed suit — the average Federal student loan balance has doubled over that same period. But even though pursuing a degree often means taking on a major financial burden, recent research shows that for many Americans, it’s worth the cost.