#PayChat: Examining the Value of a College Degree

These days, many people question the value of a college education. Is it worth the cost, and how should the value of a college degree be measured?

Last week, PayScale released its annual College ROI Report, which ranks the return on investment at hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. The new report allows users to customize their search by school type, location, major, and more. Check out this report to help you make well-informed decisions about your future.

At PayScale, we recognize that when looking at the value of a college degree monetary success is certainly not the only factor to consider. On the other hand, it is definitely an important part of the equation. Please join us this Wednesday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. (PST) to discuss PayScale’s 2014 College ROI Report and the value of a college degree in our monthly twitter chat, #PayChat. During this 30 minute chat we’ll discuss the following questions:

• How do we measure the value of an education? Should we try?
• Why does education matter and how can it impact individuals, under-served populations, society, etc.?
• Should we focus on career outcomes?
• Should schools be held accountable for student successes or failures post-graduation?
• What is the non-monetary value of education? How do you think of that in the frame of the cost of education? Given the fact that education isn’t free, how do you price the intangible benefits?
• How does a four-year degree compare to a two-year degree, trade schools and on-line education?
• How much does a college degree contribute to a student’s long-term success in career and in life?

If this will be your first time joining us for #PayChat, check out the “Introducing #PayChat” post for more information. #PayChat typically happens on the last Wednesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. (PT) and as always, feedback is appreciated. If you have a topic that you would like us to discuss in a future #PayChat, please share it on Twitter or in the comment section below.

Tell Us What You Think

We want to hear from you. Do you have any stories to share or questions to ask about higher education? Send us a tweet, join #PayChat or leave a message in the comments.