On Wednesday’s Afternoon Shift we examine the rising cost of college and ask, “Is it worth it?”

First Hour

Northwestern President Morton Schapiro recently co-authored an op-ed in the L.A. Times, wherein he defends America’s higher-education model—and its price tag. He says that the premium on a college education and the ratio of college graduates’ earnings to high school graduates’ earnings, underlines this point. But is that the case for all college degrees? We discuss the value of a liberal arts education with President Schapiro and Ohio University economics professor Richard Vedder.

Suburban Transit:  Which Chicago area suburbs rate highest when it comes to transit and alternative transportation?  A new study out today from DePaul University ranks the best – and the answers may surprise you.  We’ll talk with the lead author about the what, the where and the why.

Second Hour

3@3 (or 4 or 5):  Angela Caputo (The Chicago Reporter) & Lee Bey (WBEZ blogger) today to chat up these topics:  The wacky world of Cicero politics, Target opening a new store in the classic Louis Sullivan-designed Carsons building and more.

Curious City: Festivals:  We are smack-dab in the middle of summer fest season.  Are we, as a city, experiencing festival-overload?  The Curious City team stops by to answer that question, and more, on this installment of CC.

Paul Virant:  The award-winning Chicago chef is known for his use of preservation in his cooking techniques; he even wrote a book on the subject (The Preservation Kitchen: The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves and Aigre-doux).  Virant is the executive chef at Vie in Western Springs and partner chef at Perennial Virant in Chicago.