By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The cost of higher education keeps getting higher, but more Americans are deciding that it’s worth it.

More than half of Americans surveyed by Country Financial in July say a college education is a wise investment, that’s after six straight years of post-recession declines. Country’s manager of financial security support Joe Buhrmann said  more Americans are determined to get that degree even if it means cutting housing costs, noting that 34 percent of college graduates lived at home while going to school.

“That surprised me it was that high,” Buhrmann said.

Buhrmann added the survey shows more people are prioritizing a college education letting other life goals wait, noting that the average college graduate leaves school with $28,000 in loan debt.

“We are continuing to see folks delay marriage, children and buying a home all because of that crushing student loan debt,” Buhrmann said.

Three in four college graduates reported working while going to school, but the survey is split between those who say a job is better than an unpaid internship which might help you gain valuable on-the-job experience.

The survey shows five in six surveyed said they were glad they invested in a college education, a sentiment Buhrmann echoed, noting that the average college graduate earns an additional $1 million in their lifetime.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].