Getting a college degree in dance can easily leave an aspiring performer crushed under the heel of student loan debt -- but it doesn't have to be that way. College finance expert Zac Bissonnette points out a path around the pitfalls of a performing arts education.
For years now, private college tuition has risen far faster than inflation, a fact that colleges have used a fancy theory called Baumol's Law to explain away. Unfortunately for families who pay over $200,000 to send a child to one of those schools, the comparative value of the education rarely justifies the higher price.
As a new wave of high school students enter the college admissions horse race, here's a bit of advice for their parents: Stop looking at your kid and worrying about why he doesn't seem interested in getting into a top school. Instead, look in the mirror and worry about why you do care so much.
American colleges took in $83 million from credit card companies, leading some to wonder if college students are being exploited by the industry. But here are the real numbers: The average college student graduates with about $4,100 in credit card debt and $24,000 in student loans. Which is the bigger problem?
On a recent Today Show Money 911 segment, a caller said she'd filed for bankruptcy -- but that didn't free her from her student loans. She then asked how bankruptcy would affect her ability to get more student loans. Clearly, she isn't learning the right lesson from Chapter 11.
Parents concerned that their children will suffer academically if they work during college shouldn't worry. Studies have found that students who work not only getting higher GPAs, but are better prepared for the workforce post-graduation.
A lot of high school students dream of going to college in New York City, and who can blame them? The problem is you'll most likely pay dearly for the privilege. And chances are you may take an awfully long time to recoup that investment.
