{"product_id":"making-college-pay-book-beth-akers-9780593238530","title":"Making College Pay","description":"\u003cb\u003eA leading economist makes the case that college is still a smart investment, and reveals how to increase the odds of your degree paying off.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe cost of college makes for frightening headlines and politics. The outstanding balance of student loans is over $1.5 trillion nationally, while tuitions continue to rise. And with most students currently attending classes remotely from their dorm or childhood bedrooms, we have to wonder: \u003ci\u003eIs college really worth it?\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFrom a financial perspective, the answer is yes, says economist Beth Akers: the average college graduate earns a million dollars more over their lifetime than someone without a degree. And the most elite 4-year colleges deliver\u003ci\u003e 15 percent\u003c\/i\u003e return on investment--double that of the stock market. Moreover, despite all the horror stories about burdensome student debt, most graduates actually owe very little in monthly payments, relative to their income. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eYes, college is expensive. But when we look at college for what it is - an investment in future opportunities, job security, and earnings - Akers argues, we see that the price isn't the problem: it's the risk that your investment might not pay off. In \u003ci\u003eMaking College Pay, \u003c\/i\u003e she shows how to stack the deck in your favor by making smart choices about where to go, what to study, and how to pay for it. Readers will learn: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003e-\u003c\/b\u003e Why choosing the right major matters more than where you enroll\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e-\u003c\/b\u003e The best metric for picking a college (hint: not prestige, selectivity, or ranking).\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e-\u003c\/b\u003e Why borrowing is often best, even if you can afford to pay outright.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e-\u003c\/b\u003e How to \u003cb\u003ehedge your bets by\u003c\/b\u003e unbundling the college experience, or \u003cb\u003etransfer your risk \u003c\/b\u003eusing tools like income-sharing agreements \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFull of practical advice for students and parents, \u003ci\u003eMaking College Pay \u003c\/i\u003ereminds us that higher education remains an engine for upward mobility and prosperity in America.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50059105632529,"sku":"CIN0593238532G","price":4.81,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51332444225809,"sku":"CIN0593238532VG","price":5.82,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52648988410129,"sku":"GOR014575365","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0593238532.jpg?v=1786079016","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/making-college-pay-book-beth-akers-9780593238530","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}