College Graduates Earn More
Education Level
Average
Lifetime Earnings
Professional degree
$4.4 million
Doctoral degree
$3.4 million
Master's degree
$2.5 million
Bachelor's degree
$2.1 million
Associate's degree
$1.6 million
Some college
$1.5 million
High school graduate
$1.2 million
Non-high school graduate
$1 million
According to the United States Census Bureau, college graduates earn far more over their working lifetimes than non-college graduates. See the chart to the right.
Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn good pay. Most college graduates earn a lot more money during their working years than people who stop their education at high school.
The more education you get the more likely it is you will always have a job. According to one estimate, by the year 2028 there will be 19 million more jobs for educated workers than there are qualified people to fill them.
Today most good jobs require more than a high school diploma. Businesses want to hire people who know how to think and solve problems.
Education beyond high school gives you a lot of other benefits, including meeting new people, taking part in new opportunities to explore your interests, and experiencing success.