Opportunity cost is what you sacrifice in your choice. It is the value of your next best choice which you give up by making your choice. The opportunity cost of going to college is what you would gained doing your second choice to college.

What is the most common thing people do with their four years instead of going to college?

Is that worth it? Would going to college pay off in the long run?

Start by asking how much more do you make over your lifetime with a college degree?

You need to figure out your solution and it requires three steps in math. You need to know the average age people retire at is 64 and that most people graduate from college at 22. It takes 9 years for a college degree to start paying off. College graduates earn $24,000 more per year than high school graduates.

How much do college graduates earn over there lifetime?