Education: value of education

The value of your education

Fact: The more you learn, the more you earn.

Fact: A college degree opens doors for you that otherwise would be closed

Fact: Dropping out of school and having babies before your basic education is completed, high school and college, are hugely negative influences on job, career and income.

Fact: Low income parents tend to have low income children.

Fact: Life is what you make it ... and nobody owes you anything.

Unemployment and Education, 2010

• Around 14% - less than a high school diploma
• Around 10% - HS diploma and no college degree
• Bit over 8% - Some college, no degree
• Around 7% - Associate degree
• Around 4% - College degree and higher
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Income by Education – how much is your education worth each year for age 25 and older, 2007 data

$24,964 – Not a high school graduate
$32,862 – High School graduate
$40,769 - Some college or associate degree
$41,568 – Median income for full time, year round workers
$56,118 - Bachelor’s degree
$75,140 - Advanced degree
Click Here to see the graph and read the article.

Lifetime earnings by education, 1999 data

$1.2 million – with high school diploma
$2.1 million – with college degree
$1.3 million – value of master’s degree over high school diploma
$2.5 million – with college master’s degree
$3.4 million – lifetime earnings with doctoral degree
$4.4 million – lifetime earnings with professional degrees

"Glass Ceiling" On Earnings Still Intact … The report also shows that while more American women than men have received bachelor's degrees every year since 1982, men with professional degrees may expect to cumulatively earn almost $2 million more than their female counterparts over their work lives. Glass ceiling aside, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women who graduated from college earned about 76% more than women with only a high school diploma in 2004.

The figures are based on 1999 earnings projected over a typical work life, defined as the period from ages 25 through 64. Click Here to see if for yourself.