Does the worth of a college degree outweigh the cost?

The University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus
The University of St. Thomas, with the main campus in St. Paul, Minn., plans to add a two-year school to serve low-income students. The Dougherty Family College would give students an associate's degree with the hope the students would go on to get their bachelor's degree at St. Thomas or another institution, here on Nov. 18, 2016.
Peter Cox | MPR News

When young adults set out to pick a college back in 2010 and 2011, they were making a decision of a lifetime amid big financial obstacles: soaring tuition and the great recession. And as they progressed through their college careers, a debate over the value of college grew louder.

A long held mantra — that the best investment is a good education — is increasingly being called into question. Some politicians, high-profile entrepreneurs and even educators, have become publicly skeptical of the worth of degree that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain.

In that context, NPR's Robert Siegel set out to learn how nine bright and engaging college students feel now about the choices they made back then. How have they handled the financial burden? And how well-positioned do they feel they are for the future? Robert spent a year visiting with people who made a variety of decisions — attending a big state university, private college and community college.

The program is called "College Choice: The Value of It All."

To listen, click the audio player above.

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