Opportunity Cost of a College Degree
Calculate the mathematical opportunity cost of attending college for 4 years versus entering the workforce immediately.
Your Variables
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2 years
0 years10 years
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15 years
5 years30 years
Understanding Opportunity Cost
When evaluating whether to go to college, most people only look at tuition. But the true cost is the Opportunity Cost: the income you forfeit by sitting in a classroom for 4 years instead of working.
If you could earn $40,000 a year straight out of high school, a 4-year degree costs you $160,000 in lost wages PLUS the cost of tuition.
Does the college degree increase your lifetime earnings enough to make up for that massive initial deficit? Use the calculator above to find out.