The economic crisis has raised unemployment, universities have reduced their available spots, and tuition is becoming inaccessible to the poor and middle class. So, is a college education really worth it?

Students must be certain that they want to go to a college these days. Though motivations vary – pressure from home, aggressive marketing, or social tendencies in the political arena – a university education is considered a good investment because higher pay has traditionally followed a higher education. However, many students argue that their decision is not only about money and that they see the value of a college education as a way to expand their knowledge and learn independence.

Students have to learn the hard lesson that going to a university is not enough. You also have to study the right subjects, not just your preferences. This way, you will have business contacts for when you graduate. Many students try to avoid the toughest subjects, such as math and chemistry, and instead, they choose the “easy” or ” fun” ones. They waste their time by choosing fields in the humanities that give little prospect of landing a job.

For instance, some students receive futile degrees in media, photography, or fashion, so they can get interesting jobs. However, employers will take advantage of them because they have many candidates to choose from since the market is already over-saturated.

I am not saying that the humanities is the wrong way to go, but graduates in those subjects have lower wages and are less likely to find work in their fields compared to those who graduate with a degree in science. According to a study conducted by Andrew Sum, a labor economist at Northeastern University and leading expert on the youth labor market, more than half of all humanities graduates get jobs that do not require university degrees.

The tuition fees and certain majors are the two main reasons to discourage students from going to college. First, the idea that they will be spending their twenties and thirties paying off their university or college debts once they have graduated is a big negative, and second, their preferred major will not guarantee them a job in their field, or they will end up working menial jobs.

According to a report by myUface in 2009,  U.K. tuition is between $5,500 and $28,500 USD per year, whereas in the U.S., the tuition is between $5,000 and $30,000. On top of that, you must add $8,000 for living expenses, if the student moves away from his or her hometown.

I am not discouraging students from going to a university, but they have to take tuition fees and their chosen field of study into account before they make their final decision. Choosing a science degree is a safer investment than a humanities degree because there are more jobs and less competition. Nowadays, majoring in the humanities field is a gamble, but if students want to succeed in this competitive field, they must know that there will be blood, sweat, and tears all the way.

If students do not choose higher education, there are other interesting professions, such as becoming an electrician or plumber. You can make good money, and skip three or four years at a college or university and the financial struggle from student loan debts. Dear students, the decision is yours.

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Despite the economic recession, it is not all that difficult to get a loan when times are tough. The hard part is being able to pay back those loans, in full, and in a certain time frame. And among those struggling the most are recent college graduates who can’t find jobs. In fact, so many things have to go right for things to be uncomplicated for a college graduate since the recession. Without a paycheck, the student loans quickly become a huge burden.

With the Baby Boomer generation retiring at an older age, it is increasingly difficult for college graduates to find jobs. In fact, according to a report from MSNBC, in 2009 “employers would hire 22% fewer college graduates than in 2008.” Additionally many baby boomers are stalling retirement because the financial recession wiped out many of their 401K retirement plans. Along with the financial crisis comes federal budget cuts, which is reducing the number of jobs available, especially toward those fresh out of college.

Another financial burden for college students is the cost of health insurance. Bowling Green State University School Health Director Dr. Glen Egelman stated that “some universities are requiring that students have health insurance before they are admitted to college, and if they don’t, they must buy into the school’s student health care plan or obtain their own insurance.”

Julio Manceras, a former student at the University of Texas, knows all too well what student loans, federal budget cuts and lack of health insurance can do to a college student. At the age of 19, Julio was hospitalized and diagnosed with a severe health condition known as “Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia, a condition that occurs when one’s heart has irregular electrical pathways.”

After Julio’s tenth stay in the hospital, his medical costs exceeded $500,000.00 because his family did not have health insurance. The hospital wanted to apply the financial aid from UT towards his medical costs, but because his student loans were funded through federal grants, it made it impossible. Like most college students who are legally considered adults, Julio was ineligible for Medicaid.

At www.gobankingrates.com, four steps of advice are given to college-bound students and recent college graduates. When applying for college, always look at schools with lower tuition rates, scholarship opportunities and apply for FASFA as soon as possible. Once in college, think about internships to get some experience in your career field. Set budgets for yourself by thinking down the road rather than spending impulsively.

Additionally, have a back-up plan, if you can’t find a job immediately after graduation, whether it’s to move back home, make a savings account, or get an internship. Lastly, once you find a job, focus on those student loans and your basic expenses, and for the rest of it, save as much as you can.

Julio Manceras is now approaching graduation as a pre-med student at Texas Christian University, and through his xperiences, has decided to become a doctor. Manceras said, “through my hardships of problems and observing my environment, I wanted in return to give the care many people cannot afford.”

Let’s see if others will be given the financial care and opportunity they deserve. Not just in the medical field, but in every field that every college graduate pursues as a career.

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