All articles tagged with #education costs
Tariffs are driving up back-to-school shopping costs, with studies suggesting prices are higher this year. Parents are budgeting more tightly, reusing items from last year, omitting items on teachers’ lists, and some expect to incur debt as schools ask for nearly $100 of supplies per child.
A Washington Post report describes students racing through online degrees—such as Christie Williams finishing a bachelor’s in three months and a master’s in five weeks—via short courses and tutorials, costing roughly $4,000. While proponents say these pathways slash time and money, educators warn the rapid pace may undermine credential quality and traditional degree value, prompting discussions about oversight, rigor, and affordability in online programs.
Touted as a flexible path for working adults, accelerated online degrees let students earn bachelor’s in months rather than years and some master’s in weeks, with examples like a North Carolina HR executive finishing a bachelor’s in four weeks after two months of self-study and a master’s in five weeks for about $4,000; educators worry this 'degree hacking' undermines credential value and integrity, while supporters say it lowers cost and time barriers.
A Washington Post report drawing on American University research finds that some widely pursued graduate degrees—especially in social work and psychology—may yield zero to negative financial returns, while degrees in medicine, law and pharmacy tend to offer higher financial payoff; the study calls for better information on program costs and benefits and notes outcomes can vary by gender and undergraduate background.