The correct answer is A. The salary you will earn with a degree will pay back the cost of college over your career.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "pay off in the long run" is used to explain an action that will have more benefits than costs or disadvantages if this action is considered in the future. This includes post-secondary education because even when this can be expensive it has many advantages that include access to better job opportunities, personal growth and that you will earn a high salary that will exceed or pay back the costs of college. According to this, the words of Dimitri's counselor mean that "The salary you will earn with a degree will pay back the cost of college over your career."