From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Is college still worth it?

I'm Barbara Bogave, sitting in for Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Does college pay off?

It's top of mind for parents and students, especially since 2012, when total student debt

passed the mind-boggling landmark of $1 trillion. Imagine, since the parents of today's

freshman went to school, college costs have increased by a thousand percent.

Meanwhile, half of all federal student loans are overdue or in default.

Is it possible to make college more affordable for more students?

We'll grade new alternatives to traditional ivy-covered brick-and-mortar classrooms.

And on today's talking point, the murder of Jim Foley and a growing

American hostage crisis. First, this news. Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel, stream BBC World

Service, NPR and KCRW programs, continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at kCRW.com.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

We're back with To The Point on Barbara Bogaven for Warren Olney.

Just ahead, is college worth it?

The spiraling cost of college education has

parents and students struggling with debt. We'll look at alternative models for traditional

four-year college and question the value of a liberal arts education in today's economy.

And later on today's to the point, talking point, the brutal killing of journalists James Foley by the Islamic Militant Group, ISIS, underscores a growing danger for the media in covering conflicts around the world.

We'll hear how war coverage is changing in an increasingly violent time.

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