Is a university education still worth the price?

The Debate
This generation is facing a different world of work and education than before. University tuition fees are higher (though a lot more aid is available), there are a lot more people getting degrees, and the workforce is more competitive. Do they have it worse than previous generations? Is a university education still good value for money – that is, is the increase in employment and income worth the money you pay (and borrow) for it?
A number of observers, including economist Armine Yalniziyan, argue that university has become prohibitively expensive without offering better employment returns, especially when today’s high student-debt burdens are taken into account. Others, such as education consultant Alex Usher, say that today’s university students have a better deal than ever before: The real-life costs of university are lower than they have been in decades, and the rewards are higher. More...