As I was approaching graduation from high school in 1984 and I had no intention of going on to college, despite a couple of scholarship offers to play baseball. Then my high school coach said, “Trent you can always farm but you should go to school and get a degree to become a coach while you farm.” I must say my parents were completely supportive of either decision, to go or not to go. So I caved in and went to Illinois State University where I met with head baseball coach Duffy Bass and registered for classes. On the way home, I stopped at the National Spotted Swine Summer Type Conference and life took another turn.
I had about 50 sows at that time, all purebred Spots. I really wanted to make my mark in the hog business. Right then, a fantastic boar, exhibited by Robert Symonds, walked into the ring. I turned to my Dad and Grandpa who were there with me and I said, “That is the boar I need to get my herd to the next level.” My Dad believed but also noted that he was just named Grand Champion boar, meaning he will cost too much. Then they went home and I stayed for the sale the next day.
I will never forget walking into the house when I got home the next day to announce that I had made a couple of decisions. First, I am not sure why I went to sign up for classes because I am going to be a farmer for the rest of my life and I just purchased that Champion boar for $4,000. Amazingly my parents were very supportive and only said a couple semi-harsh things like “how will you pay for that boar?” and “why didn’t you decide this last week and we would have not signed you up for school?”
I really didn’t plan on walking down that historical memory lane but it feeds into the real discussion I wanted to have today: the cost of a college education. In 1980, the price to attend a four-year college full-time was $10,231 annually including tuition, fees, room and board. Adjusted for inflation (according to the National Center for Education Statistics), by 2019-20 the total price increased to $28,775. That’s a 180% increase.
The runaway cost of college is very troubling to me. I might also let you know that we currently have 2 daughters in college and we see and feel those escalating expenses. When we were helping them explore their choices, I heard more than one recruiter say, “our current cost is ‘blank blank’ but don’t worry about that, we will give you access to grants and loans.” That mindset in the college education world has precipitated the runaway cost of college education.
Most reports indicate that a 4-year education is going to cost an average of $30,000 plus and we as parents believe that to be true. I must point out that the cost to us as taxpayers has exploded as well. All those Pell Grants and the student loans that are not paid back eventually come home to roost.
We might also factor in the following report that I believe whole heartedly. A March 2023 survey found that only 42% of Americans believe college is worth the cost because it leads to better job opportunities and higher income, while 56% believe that earning a college degree is not worth the cost. That has changed a lot in 10 years: A 2013 study found that 53% believed college was a good decision, while 40% believed it wasn't.
Today we have a bunch of overeducated idiots who don’t have any skills that can help make the world a better place. I realize that is harsh but let’s be honest and look at who in the world is doing what enables the production of the essentials of life we truly need. I am 100% in the camp that believes you need to create your own opportunities in life and not become beholden to the “system” who funded your tuition.