A College Degree is the Key to Higher Earnings

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A College Degree is the Key to Higher Earnings
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Benefits of a College Degree

• When it comes to finding and maintaining a job,
  having a college degree is one way to gain and
  maintain an edge.
• On average, individuals who earn a degree enjoy
  advantagesranging from better salaries to more
  job opportunitiesover individuals with no
  college education.
• A college degree is not a guarantee that an
  individual will find their dream job, but a
  degree will help prepare the individual for
  career pursuits.

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Benefits of a College Degree

• People attend college for a wide variety of
  reasons. Some of these reasons are personal,
  while others are universal, tied to the desire to
  enter an occupation or career in which a college
  degree is preferred or even required for
  employment.
• Although it is impossible to discern an
  individuals motivation for pursuing a college
  degree, one can be certain these degrees have
  quantifiable benefits including more career
  options, better promotion opportunities, higher
  earnings potential and lower unemployment rates.

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Solid Return on Investment

• Pursuing a college degree is an investment that
  can be both expensive and time consuming.
• Individuals who earn a college degree do so
  expecting to see a return on their investment.
• Individuals pursuing a college degree often focus
  on the long-term payoffs that a college education
  provides.

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More Career Options

• Many occupations are classified as college
  preferred meaning a college degree is helpful
  but not a requirement.
• There are also a number of occupations that only
  individuals with college degrees can hold.
• Some of these occupations may require additional
  education beyond a bachelors degree, leading to
  a professional or graduate degree, as well as a
  license to practice.

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Promotion Opportunities

• Job promotions are commonly based on an
  individuals quality of work, motivation and
  ability to thrive in the workplace.
• Supervisors often interpret pursuing or having a
  college degree as a sign that an individual is
  motivated, serious about their future, are
  capable of learning and can accomplish goals.
• Supervisors considering individuals for promotion
  are likely to look more favorably on individuals
  who have earned a college degree.

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Higher Earnings Potential

• One of the most compelling reasons to pursue a
  college degree is the ability to earn a higher
  salary. According to the United States Census
  Bureau, among the top 25 percent of full-time
  wage and salary earners in 2000, 58 percent had a
  college degree.
• The median weekly earnings of workers aged 25 to
  64 with a bachelors degree was 834, compared
  with 507 for workers whose highest level of
  educational attainment was a high school diploma
  or equivalent.

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Lower Unemployment Rates

• Individuals with college degrees are more likely
  to have a job than those without degrees.
• According to the United States Census Bureau, the
  unemployment rate in 2000 was 3.5 percent for
  workers aged 25 and over whose highest level of
  educational attainment was a high school diploma,
  compared with less than 1 percent for those who
  had either a professional or doctoral degree.

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Benefits of a College Degree

• There are numerous reasons to earn a college
  degree, the most common of which is career
  planning.
• A college degree is a great asset in the
  workforce and individuals with a college degree
  will have more career options, better promotion
  opportunities, higher earnings and are less
  likely to experience unemployment.

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About the Author

• Jamie Lawry has written these articles on behalf
  of Rio Salado College, an accredited college
  offering online learning and education programs.
  For more information about college degrees,
  please visit http//www.riosalado.edu/future/html/
  main.html.