Re-imagining High School
Written by Christine Torre, TandemEDU
At 32, Marcus Baez finally reached a salary of six figures and decided it was time to buy his dream home. He began the process of applying for a mortgage and was baffled when every application was denied. Marcus ultimately learned his debt-to-income ratio was too high--his student loan debt kept him from qualifying for a mortgage.
As of March 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that Americans owe $1.76 trillion in student loan debt, an average of almost $29,000 for each of the 46 million borrowers. More than half of students will graduate in Georgia owing money borrowing an average of $27,759. Multiply this by four years, and the total borrowed skyrockets to over $110,000 per student.
Despite the massive debt that Baez and tens of thousands of Georgians face, graduates overwhelmingly value the college experience and the degree it offers. In an October 2021 survey of college graduates, the Pew Research Center found that over three-fourths believe college helped them grow personally and intellectually and opened up job opportunities. Marcus Baez echoed this finding, "School did help me make the money I make, but it hurt me in what I could do with that money.”
High school seniors graduating this year are caught in a vicious cycle--they need a college degree to get a decent job, they need money to get the degree, and they need a job to pay the money back. The Complete College Georgia initiative estimates that by 2025, 60% of all jobs in the state will require a college education; however, only four in ten adults in Georgia have a college degree.
Clearly, a college degree has value to the individual, the community, and the workforce, but what can be done to make that degree more affordable?
Georgia allows high school students to dual enroll (taking college classes while in high school) and pays the tuition, fees and books for up to 30 credit hours. Studies reveal the successful outcomes for high school students who take college classes, including increased college readiness, decreased debt, successful transfer into four-year institutions, and decreased time to degree completion.
Completing significant college credit in high school helps TandemEDU families reduce their college debt.
Through the TandemEDU program, students can earn a high school diploma and up to 60 college credits. With three degree tracks, Associate of Arts, College Prep and Career Explorations, we have a custom plan perfect for every high school student. As a result of significant early college experience TandemEDU students are well-prepared for college, with 97% earning the Georgia HOPE Scholarship as seniors. These students are cutting their college expenses in half!
Want to learn how you can save on college costs?
With five north Georgia locations, TandemEDU can help your family homeschool through the high school years, earn early college credit and avoid massive college debt!