There is a classic saying: “what is cheap is expensive.” Moreover, it seems that for many people, the saying holds true for higher education. As a result, many students try to scramble for ways to afford the staggering tuition costs of prestigious universities, just to be able to “get an edge” in the job market - even if it means being buried in debt.

However, according to a study by Princeton economist Alan Krueger and researcher Stacy Berg Dale at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, graduates who earned degrees from top-tier colleges earned similar salaries with graduates who were accepted by these institutions but opted to study in more affordable colleges.

Apparently, a hard working student makes the difference. You don’t really need to be in the most selective university to get that college degree. What is important is that you do get that college degree.

The purpose of a college education is to prepare you for your career – it’s not meant to get you in a financial crisis soon after you graduate. Prestige may help especially when it comes to building your network. But if you can’t afford it, it’s best to stay practical.

And fortunately, there are so many ways to be practical these days with the growing popularity of online degrees. Not only to you get the benefit of more affordable cost, you also get the benefit of flexible work schedules that suit your needs.

And don’t forget that scholarships, student loans and grants are always there to help you with your college finances.

The importance of education to youths cannot be stressed enough. That is why you need to make sure that you benefit from it by getting it rather than be hindered by steep prices.

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