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How Income
Changes with Education
by Janet Attard

Wondering whether going to
college is really worth all the hassle? What about staying on for an
advanced degree after getting your bachelor's degree? Will it really make
that much difference in your earnings potential?
According to the US Census
Bureau, the answer to both questions is a big YES! Data from the March
1997 Current Population Survey show the average earnings in 1996 for
persons ages 18 and over were $22,154 for high school graduates vs.
$38,112 for individuals with a Bachelor's Degree. Those with advanced
degrees earned an average of $61,317, while those who didn't finish high
school earned only an average of $15,011 per year.
For the first time ever, the
study shows women under the age of 25 are more likely than men to get a
bachelor's, with 29 percent of women in the country receiving a Bachelor's
degree vs. 26% of men. Other statistics worth noting: On the whole, 24
percent of the US population hold Bachelor's degrees. In Massachusetts,
Maryland and District of Columbia one in three adults has a Bachelor's
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