Question

hook exercise: is college worth it?background: in may, evelyn is graduating from bryan station high school in lexington, kentucky. her parents have always wanted her to go to college but can only contribute $5,000 a year to schooling. she can live at home for free if she chooses a nearby in-state school. depending on her choice, the remaining cost will be paid through loans. so far, evelyn has been accepted to: 1. northwestern university in evanston, illinois; 2. university of kentucky in lexington, kentucky; and 3. bluegrass community and technical college in lexington, kentucky.evelyn has also been offered a position in her aunt kathys graphic design firm starting after high school graduation. evelyn likes art and computers and would like to work as a graphic artist one day. without a college degree, evelyn would start at $28,000 a year and could live at home.task one: evelyn needs to make a decision. with a partner, help her finish the chart below. recent (2024-2025) tuition figures are provided.college or university | tuition | room and board | per year cost | cost for four-year degree--- | --- | --- | --- | ---northwestern university | $67,156 | $21,126 | |university of kentucky (in-state tuition and live at home) | $12,859 | $0 | |bluegrass community and technical college (in-state tuition and live at home) | $4,640 | $0 | | (two years only)task two: list the costs and benefits for each of the decisions that evelyn might make. some of these costs and benefits will be financial, but there are other costs and benefits that are not measured in dollars and cents. be ready to discuss your analysis.decision | cost | benefit--- | --- | ---attend northwestern university | |attend university of kentucky and live at home | |attend blue grass community and technical school | |work for aunt kathy; dont go to college | |

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate per-year cost (Northwestern)

Add tuition + room/board:
$\$67,158 + \$21,126 = \$88,284$

Step2: Calculate 4-year cost (Northwestern)

Multiply per-year cost by 4:
$\$88,284 \times 4 = \$353,136$

Step3: Calculate per-year cost (U Kentucky)

Add tuition + room/board:
$\$12,859 + \$0 = \$12,859$

Step4: Calculate 4-year cost (U Kentucky)

Multiply per-year cost by 4:
$\$12,859 \times 4 = \$51,436$

Step5: Calculate per-year cost (Bluegrass)

Add tuition + room/board:
$\$4,640 + \$0 = \$4,640$

Step6: Calculate 2-year cost (Bluegrass)

Multiply per-year cost by 2:
$\$4,640 \times 2 = \$9,280$

Completed Task One Chart:

College or University	Tuition	Room and Board	Per Year Cost	Cost for Four-Year Degree
University of Kentucky (in-state, live at home)	$\$12,859$	$\$0$	$\$12,859$	$\$51,436$
Bluegrass Community and Technical College (in-state, live at home)	$\$4,640$	$\$0$	$\$4,640$	$\$9,280$ (two years only)

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Completed Task Two Chart:

Costs include financial expenses and non-financial tradeoffs; benefits include financial gains and personal/career advantages.

Answer:

Decision	Cost	Benefit
Attend University of Kentucky and live at home	- Moderate student loans<br>- 4 years of lost full-time income<br>- Less specialized art program than private schools	- Low living costs (free room/board)<br>- In-state tuition discount<br>- Local professional connections in Kentucky<br>- Flexible schedule while living at home
Attend Blue Grass Community and Technical School	- Minimal student loans<br>- 2 years of lost full-time income<br>- Limited advanced graphic design coursework	- Low upfront cost<br>- Short program duration (2 years)<br>- Focus on technical, career-ready skills<br>- Stay local with free room/board
Work for Aunt Kathy; don't go to college	- No formal college degree limits long-term career growth<br>- Lack of advanced technical training<br>- No college network or credentials	- Immediate full-time income ($\$28,000$/year)<br>- On-the-job graphic design experience<br>- No student debt<br>- Free room/board at home