Get the degree or stay?

Forbes reports.

Graduating College Early: Is The Money Saved Worth Missing Senior Year?

At the College Board average, if students graduate in three years instead of the expected four, they will save approximately $42,419 at a private four-year university or $32,762 at a public in-state university. Currently, the majority (69%) of college students graduate with student loan debt, an average of $28,400 per borrower. The money saved from one year of private school is enough to pay back that debt with $14,000 left over – $14000 which can pay for a Brooklyn loft share for ten months, or a new Toyota Yaris sedan, or 22,105 cans of domestic beer.

There is no current data on the national percentage of students who graduate early – but numbers continue to rise each year. At Johns Hopkins University, 20% of students complete their degree early. From 2010 to 2014, there has been a 30% increase of students at Duke University who graduate in less than four years. The straightest path begins with leveraging high school AP classes and summer coursework. Also, by honing in on completing degree requirements over liberal courses, finishing school early – by a year or at least a semester – can be possible.

However, is the time in the classroom and on campus valuable in other ways? Is the extra year of uniquely undergraduate experiences worth the financial cost?