Is Post-Secondary Education Worth the Cost?
Is Post-Secondary Education Worth the Cost? By: Iris Peña In an era of rising tuition costs and an evolving economy, an essential question lingers: Is post-secondary education still worth the cost in Canada? The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (CST) and Dr. Nathaniel Barr’s new report responds with a clear answer – post-secondary education provides strong benefits despite the burden of student debt. Peter Lewis, President and CEO of CST, shares his insight, findings from the research, and advice for parents — speaking both as an industry leader and as a parent himself.Career and Income Benefits of Higher Education An individual with higher education is more likely to earn a higher income throughout their lifetime and enjoy greater career stability. Research also shows that post-secondary education offers some protection against economic downturns. While it doesn’t guarantee security, it often acts as a buffer during challenging times.Health and Social Benefits of Higher Education Beyond financial benefits, higher education contributes to shaping critical aspects of life. “When you look at the body of evidence, you can see that having a higher education produces better health outcomes, produces longer lifespans, produces individuals who are more civically engaged,” Peter Lewis, President and CEO of CST, said. University graduates typically live up to eight years longer compared to those who didn’t finish high school. Although this isn’t universal, graduates are more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as being less likely to smoke. From a social perspective, they are also more involved in their communities and more active in charitable giving.The Hidden Weight of Student Debt in Canada The average student debt for a university graduate is about $28,000 for a bachelor’s degree. For community college graduates, the average is closer to $15,000. This debt can heavily impact the start of adult life.Financial and Mental Health Strain “I would say that the most concerning trend we've seen is that sort of persistently, stubbornly high rate of debt for students who are graduating out of university at the moment,” Lewis explained. According to the report, high debt levels are tied to multiple concerns, including mental health challenges. The study refers to this as a “bandwidth tax,” which contributes to higher levels of anxiety and depression.Life Milestones Delayed Debt also forces many young adults to postpone important milestones. For instance:29% delay buying a home 20% delay starting a business 15% delay having childrenAnabelle Hsiao, a fourth-year computer science student, says she feels pressure to pursue a
How to Help Your Teen Use ChatGPT as a Tool—Not a Shortcut
How to Help Your Teen Use ChatGPT as a Tool—Not a Shortcut By Iris PeñaIn this day and age, AI is a growing source that surrounds us. ChatGPT is an AI tool that has become popular among teens, especially as a way to help them with schoolwork. Although AI is a helpful tool that students can use, many teens are growing too dependent on it and are using it for more than just support. According to a Pew Research Centre study, 26 percent of teens 13 to 17 use AI to help with their assignments. It's important to understand the effects of AI on students, how your teen is using it, and how to teach them to not to rely on it completelyKnow the risks of AI dependency AI dependency can negatively affect your teen’s learning. They can ask ChatGPT to solve a problem and get the answer in a blink of an eye without doing the work for themselves. This takes away from the learning process. In fact, research from 2024 by KPMG found that over two thirds (67 percent) of students confessed they're not learning as much and they also said they claim generative AI as their own work. This can be particularly harmful. Not only is it an ethical dilemma, but it can also impact their grades. AI is not always as reliable as teens may think. In June 2025, CTV News reported that Ed McHugh, a business and marketing professor at Dalhousie University, noticed many students had cheated on an assignment. He could tell that AI did the work for them. In the assignment, the students had to watch a video regarding a man named Adam Smith. The answer from many students was not about the right Adam Smith because there was also an economist from the 18th century named Adam Smith. This indicates how AI can provide inaccurate or misleading information when not used properly. Understand your teen's needsIn order to help your teen manage their AI use, you need to understand what they primarily use it for. A 2023 study by edtech company RM Technology found that students use AI to do their physics work, science tests, draft and write essays, solve numerical problems, make art, etc. Talk to your teen about their usage and try to discover together if they might be overly dependent on it. If necessary, subtly monitor their homework to see if it reflects