I’m 17, and at the beginning of my senior year, some of my biggest worries were my grades and getting to work on time. Suddenly, I am expected to make the life altering decision of the next four years of my life. The college experience and location are important, but they only last four years.
While the cost of college often lasts longer than eight semesters, it can extend far beyond graduation. According to the Education Data Initiative, as of 2025, the average borrower takes more than 20 years to pay off their student loan debt.
Higher education is a return on investment with access to more knowledge, opportunities, and jobs. However, the burden of student debt can hinder financial stability, making it challenging for graduates to establish themselves as independent adults. Instead of focusing solely on their careers, they spend time juggling the cost of living with repaying loans.
Living in California makes this even more challenging. According to the US News and World Report, California is ranked 50th out of 50 states in affordability. This statistic is felt daily by Californians, as they navigate a high-cost housing market, expensive transportation and high grocery and gas prices.
The financial reality of California, paired with the increasing prices of college tuition, is discouraging. Private institution tuition increased by 5.5% and public schools by 2.2% for in-state students (Average College Tuition 2024-2025).
Honestly, it feels crushing having to pick between financial safety in an uncertain economy and schools known for their academic prestige.
I was accepted into the University of San Francisco (USF) and the University of Southern California (USC), two schools that I was over the moon about the possibility of attending.
My hopes were squashed even after receiving an annual $30,000 from USF as it would still be $50,000 a year. Making the grand total at least $200,000.
USC is a similar story, but due to a mistake in applying for financial aid, I didn’t receive anything from the school. A year’s worth of tuition is $99,139; after four years, that’s $396,556.
Of course, this isn’t the case for all rising college freshmen, but it does highlight the tremendous price tag of college.
Even public schools like Cal Poly SLO or UC San Diego cost around $40,000 per year. Adjusted for inflation, in-state tuition at public universities has increased by 45% over the past 20 years. (A Look at 20 Years of Tuition Costs at National Universities)
The numbers speak for themselves: they’re daunting and depressing. While there are private scholarships, grants, and other workarounds, how much can they cover with such outrageously high prices? As much as I support and believe in the importance of higher education, these prices are ridiculous.
As a society that praises higher education, as a state with some of the most prestigious colleges in the world, and as Silicon Valley flatters itself for abundant opportunity, how financially accessible is higher education really? Does attending college mean you are choosing over financial stability?
Either way, that shouldn’t be the case. Education is important, and while it may not be the path for everyone, for those who choose it, the journey shouldn’t have to be at the cost of financial stress 16 years of post-grad.
