Will College Pay Off? A Guide to the Most Important Financial Decision You'll Ever Make

Cappelli (George W. Taylor Professor of Management, the Wharton Sch., Univ. of Pennsylvania; Why Good People Can't Get Jobs) tackles the titular question in this well-researched response. He considers the query with facts, figures, and ways of thinking that give families the context and tools to make an informed decision. The author lauds the benefits of a college education for the individual and society. However, the price of going to college has dramatically increased. Those additional costs are being paid with loans against retirements and student's future earnings. Concurrently, employers are less willing to train new hires, advertising for specific job skills and prior experience. In response, four-year universities, community colleges, and the newer for-profit institutions market programs they insist will prepare students for the real world and specifically a job. Cappelli's well-reasoned and documented answer helps families evaluate their options in terms of their individual financial situation.