When seniors open their acceptance letters, one question often gets buried beneath the wide-eyed expressions and joyous tears: “Can I pay for this” and “Is this justifiable?”
The University of Southern California has officially become the most expensive university in the United States. Including room & board, the tuition is approaching $100,000 (CBS News). While that number represents a “sticker price” which few families actually pay, it raises a critical question about the true value of a degree and whether the title is worth the price.
The average total cost for a private, nonprofit four-year college in the 2024–25 school year is about $61,990, according to Credible. That figure includes tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses. In comparison, the average student loan debt per borrower in the U.S. is $39,075, according to the Education Data Initiative.
That means many students are already paying well above the national average for higher education and graduating with significant debt and loans that need to be repaid. Meanwhile, Americans collectively owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loans, according to the Pew Research Center.
The numbers suggest that cost is not an isolated issue. It’s a systemic problem that affects graduates for years after they leave campus.
Supporters of elite universities argue that brand-name schools open doors to top jobs and powerful networks; however, data show that the return on investment, or ROI, depends more on the major than on the school’s prestige.
A 2024 study by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce found that many regional public universities deliver equal or greater long-term ROI than expensive private colleges. In other words, paying nearly twice as much doesn’t guarantee a better outcome.
And while top schools may tout generous aid packages, those offers aren’t universal. Families in the middle-income range, earning roughly $150,000 annually, often face tuition bills that consume a disproportionate share of their income, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported in 2024 that 63% of borrowers struggle to make student loan payments, and more than a third miss at least one payment each year. Even borrowers who finish college on time often owe nearly the same amount four years after graduation, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
For graduates entering helping professions, journalism, or education —careers that are essential but not always high-paying —the risk of taking on six figures of debt can outweigh the benefits of a “name-brand” diploma.
As someone planning to major in psychology and minor in journalism, I value small classes, strong mentorship, and hands-on learning. However, these opportunities are available at hundreds of colleges that do not cost $100,000 a year.
When it comes to college, the university from which your diploma came matters less than the financial freedom you’ll have after graduation. A school’s name may open a door, but the price determines whether you can walk through it without debt weighing you down.
Before students fall in love with a brand, they should ask: “Is this education worth the cost or just the title?”
