Why go to college?
Can’t
I get a good job now? Yes, maybe you could, but a college degree will
make your chances even better. Check out the earnings and unemployment
rates for people 25 years and older with different levels of education:
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, unpublished tables, 2012.
(Ref. Federal Student Aid)
| Level of education completed | Mean (average) earnings in 2011 | Unemployment rate in 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than a high school diploma | $29,848 | 14.1% |
| High school graduate, no college | $41,288 | 9.4% |
| Some college, no degree | $46,288 | 8.7% |
| Occupational program (career school) | $49,920 | 6.6% |
| Associate degree (academic program) | $52,988 | 6.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | $71,552 | 4.9% |
| Master’s degree | $84,448 | 3.6% |
| Doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D.) | $102,648 | 2.5% |
| Professional degree (e.g., M.D., J.D.) | $121,212 | 2.4% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, unpublished tables, 2012.
(Ref. Federal Student Aid)
