Speeches at college graduations are festooned with phrases of hope… hope for the future, hope for success, hope for fulfillment, etc.

Now one more phrase needs to be added to the list: we hope you like your family.

According to a recent poll 85% of graduates are moving back home in the weeks ahead.

The main reason for the backwards migration is college debt. The average student owes $27,200 according to Mark Kantrowitz publisher of financial aid sites stweb.com and FinAid.org.

It isn’t just graduating college students that are feeling uncomfortable these days.

A survey of 1000 American college presidents reveals anxiety in their ranks. High college costs, international competition and declining student quality (present company excluded of course) are raising alarm bells. More than a third of the college presidents think things are heading in the wrong direction.

With all these concerns swirling in the campus air, we have a question:

Is college worth it?

Some are arguing that college degrees are overrated. A recent essay on Time Magazine notes there are other ways to succeed beside the over-hyped college route.

In this time of hope… we are hoping for better days ahead for higher education.

And hope when we graduate, our bed at home is still available.