Student loans are often seen as a necessary evil for those with low incomes. With the rising cost of goods comes the growing wage needs of the average person. To make ends meet, most turn to a college education to earn a better salary; this is done by paying it entirely yourself or by taking out student loans. According to Debt.org, the average student loan debt in 2017 was $37,127 and rising every minute. Many questions remain; Is it worth going through the financial struggle, does it bring a lot more to the table and what are the alternatives? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Statistics from the Bureau of Labor show that the average person with a high school diploma earns about $700 per week, while a person with a four-year degree earns on average more than a thousand dollars per week. This averages out to $37,000 and $55,000 per year gross, respectively, assuming the person takes no sick or vacation days. This shows a correlation that it may be a good investment to take out student loans if you intend to earn more. However, it has been shown that those with student loans report having more financial difficulty than those without student loans and without a college degree. The Pew Research Center found that only 32% of those with student loans say they live comfortably, compared to 51% of those without student loans. Based on this data, I would suggest that taking out loans in some cases does not offer sufficient benefits to offset the resulting financial hardship. College prices nearly doubled for the average four-year degree between 1980 and 2019, even after adjusting for costs. inflation. This figure is not expected to decrease anytime soon, and as costs increase, enrollment rates will decline. The National Student Clearing House reported that for-profit four-year colleges have seen enrollment declines every year since 2011. With schools raising prices every year and fewer students enrolling every year, where do they turn? Vocational schools are becoming more and more popular. According to a College Savings Foundation survey of college finances among Gen Z students in 2017, 39 percent of them are looking for alternatives to higher education based solely on cost (para. 11). And 79% of them said costs will influence which college they choose. This is a big decision to make here, taking on nearly $50,000 in debt (not including dorm and living expenses) and struggling to pay it off for the rest of your life. Or, pay a lower cost of $35,000 for a full education, including all fees and housing (many of these schools offer housing during their programs). Many trade schools require no academic prerequisites at all beyond a high school diploma or equivalent, rather than requiring nearly 15 credit hours before even starting your degree. Some of these certifications can be completed in as little as six weeks and allow you to quickly enter the workforce with hands-on experience. Trade schools overall take less time, less money, and in some cases graduates have little to no debt due to the greater amount of scholarships and aid available. Despite rising prices and solid alternatives in higher education, student loans still offer many benefits. If a student is only interested in the return on investment from the..