After hearing stories about unemployed college graduates with six-figure student debt loads, Americans may be skeptical about college value and wary about college costs. Recent research shows college remains one of the best investments you can make.

• More money over a lifetime. Full-time college students generally forego a living wage while studying, but after graduation, they more than make up for that income shortfall by earning more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. Also something to consider in the college-value-to-college-cost equation: those who earn degrees in science- or math-related fields generally earn more as soon as they graduate than students in other majors, according to studies cited by The Wall Street Journal.

• Non-monetary value. According to studies cited by U.S. News & World Report, “College graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically.”

• Living an inquisitive, well-rounded life. Value can be intrinsic, and it often is with a college degree. College introduces students to new ideas and can awaken interests and aptitudes people didn’t previously know they had.

• Zeroing in on work you enjoy. Especially at colleges that offer a wide range of programs and the flexibility to study across disciplines, higher education can help those unsure about a new career path decide upon the best one for them.

• Technological literacy. Especially for older adult learners, the speed with which technology has changed the workplace can be daunting. In most college programs, students are required to learn to effectively work with technology, experience that can serve them well post-graduation.

• A bootstrap out of poverty. College is a particularly good value for students from low-income families because receiving an education is the best chance of helping them break out of low-paying jobs.

College value versus college cost is often difficult to quantify: how do you place a value on learning? “Higher education is an investment in human capital,” former Gettysburg College President Katherine Haley Will told National Public Radio. College value outweighs “any simple calculation of costs.”