Ric Edelman

Yes, I think so, and for all the reasons you cited.

And yet we have to recognize that the cost of going to that school, especially out of state, the tuition is so much higher, that half of parents today and half of high school seniors today say college is simply not worth the cost.

These are some of the big advantages and the reasons for going to college.

College graduates earn on average a million dollars over their lifetime more than non-grads.

College grads are more likely to have stable marriages.

They're less than half as likely to divorce.

They live longer lives.

They live healthier lives.

They live happier lives.

They have greater support and involvement in their communities.

Their children grow up

better because they're living in better neighborhoods.

They're living in safer neighborhoods.

The children are generally involved in a two-parent household as opposed to one.

And we have seen lots of studies showing the advantages to children of that.

So there are tremendous advantages for going to college and graduating with a degree.

The challenge is that today, it's not so much getting into college.

That's increasingly easy because enrollment is down nationally by about 15% compared to 10 years ago.

So schools are accepting far more students than ever.

It's easier than ever to get in, but it's harder than ever to stay in and graduate.