Is College Worth the Cost?

PoThe trailer for the Ivory Tower documentary had my attention in the first five seconds.

Filmmaker Andrew Rossi asks the controversial question: Is college worth the cost?

Fact: Student loan debt is at the $1 trillion mark. That’s way more than credit card debt, and we thought people swiping their Amex cards at mall was a problem.

That $1 trillion figure made me choke on my lunch. Seriously.

I graduated from college with about $11,000 that I had to pay  back six months after I strutted down the aisle in my blue high heels and blue cap and gown. Most of my bill was covered by an academic scholarship, plus I attended an HBCU (historically Black college and university) and my tuition was super affordable. I was lucky. That amount of money is nothing compared to students who graduated last month with more than $100,000 in debt—but can’t find a job.

In 2014, the cost of college tuition is rising and it’s very scary. These days you can’t get a summer job to pay tuition. Maybe you’ll earn enough to cover books for one semester.

Everyone waves the go to college and get an education flag, and as a college graduate I don’t knock that message one bit. I rock with it, but we have to remix the model. It’s not cool for kids to attend super pricey schools and graduate with a crushing amount of debt.

Ivory Tower travels to theaters around the country until September 4.

Do something: Take action and bring the Ivory Tower to your city, click here for the deets.

Watch the clip and let me know how you and your parents plan to pay for college.