Going to college qualifies you for higher-paying jobs in most fields. In general, college graduates make significantly more money than those with only a high school diploma. Below are average yearly earnings by educational level*:
No high school diploma: $32,552
High school graduate: $42,068
Associate degree: $50,076
Bachelor’s degree: $69,368
Advanced degree holders: $81,848 – $99,268
Based on these numbers, over the course of a 40-year career, a high school diploma can net you $1,682,720. That might not sound bad until you realize that a bachelor’s degree can earn you $2,774,720 over the same period.
* “Education pays, 2021,” Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022.https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2022/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
