PM134-Does College Still Make Financial Sense - Pirate Money

Kevin Freeman steers Pirate Money Radio into a hard‑look at the crumbling college ROI bargain. He argues that soaring tuition—$45,000 for private non‑profits and $124,000 for public four‑year degrees—has outpaced wage growth, while AI now automates the memo‑writing and slide‑making tasks that once guaranteed entry‑level jobs. Gold is used as a stark benchmark: 28 ounces of gold today can cover a full degree, a fraction of the 130 ounces needed in the 1970s.The conversation shifts to alternatives. Kevin and guest Mike Carter compare the traditional path to investing the tuition amount, citing Visual Capitalist data on which professions will be hiring in 2035 and how many of those roles are already vulnerable to AI. They dissect odd degree choices—Puppet Arts, Bowling‑Industry Management, Bagpipe Performance—and ask whether any of them still justify a six‑figure price tag.Faith‑based guidance weaves through the dialogue. Both hosts stress biblical principles: avoid heavy debt, train children in their God‑given talents, and seek schools that reinforce Christian values. Kevin shares a personal story of guiding his daughter to a college that aligned with her convictions, illustrating the importance of parental involvement beyond financial calculations.Listeners are challenged to run the numbers: four years of in‑state public tuition at $11,950 per year equals roughly $48,000, while private tuition can exceed $180,000. If that sum were invested instead, the potential returns could outpace the lifetime earnings boost traditionally promised by a degree. The episode ends with a prayer for wisdom in education decisions and a call to align money choices with liberty, security, and biblical truth.

Categories: Money