The price of attending college has risen leaving some to wonder if the benefits of a college degree outweigh the cost.

ULM has increased tuition and other required fees by more than $500 since 2009. Nationally, the average cost of tuition and other fees have increased even faster.

To compensate for these increases, many students are taking out more student loans.

Jessica Jackson, a junior criminal justice major, said she wouldn’t know the worth of college until she graduates.

“Most people go to college to get money, and I see the opposite happen all of the time,” Jackson said. “They get in debt paying for school and lose time in the workforce.”

Jackson also talked about today’s job market.

“A few of my friends graduated with a bachelor’s degree and are having problems finding a job. I’m praying the job market gets better when I graduate.”

While the unemployment rates for college graduates have risen, they are still considerably lower than unemployment rates for the population with just a high school diploma.

The unemployment rate for college graduates is about five percent compared to about 10 percent for high school graduates.

Yasmeen Davis, a senior pre-pharmacy major, said the worth of college degree depends on what the student’s major is.

“Doctors and pharmacists have to go to school to get a job in their field,” Davis said. “Going to school for dance or theatre probably isn’t going to guarantee you a job.”

ULM alumni Lamar Gafford received his B.A. in mass communication last spring and said that his time in college was helpful.

“It’s worth it because it helps you out in the long run,” Gafford said. “Statistics show college graduates make more money when they get a job.”

Research done by Georgetown researchers agrees with Gafford’s assessment.

They concluded that people with a bachelor’s degree make 84 percent more over a lifetime than high school graduates. In 1999, the gap was only 75 percent.

Gafford also alluded to the fact that his time in college gave him a sense of direction in his career.

“Before coming to school, journalism wasn’t on my radar,” Gafford said.

He also said that college made him a better writer, and writing is at the core of his career.

The value of a college degree is different for each individual.

Weighing the costs and rewards of college is something an individual must determine on their own to answer for themselves if college is worth the cost or not.