Graduation beer

Average Annual Earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates

Professional Degree $109,600
Doctoral Degree $89,400
Master's Degree $62,300
Bachelor's Degree $52,200
Associate's Degree $38,200
Some College $36,800
High School Graduate $30,400
Some High School $23,400
Average Annual Earnings—Different Levels of Education.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.

 

As proud as I am of my shiny new degree, the most recent numbers you posted are from 2000. 3 of my friends from High School never even went to JUCO and make over $100k a year in construction...not to mention they all have their own houses already. I semi-regret my decisions.

 

Little outdated, don't you think?

 

It may be outdated, but I assure you that it has not changed much over the past 12 years. However, I get the feeling that you are likely to argue with a rock.

For the few high school dropouts that end up like Bill Gates, congrats. Congrats to all the graduates, your student debt will pay off in the long run and allow you to drink fine beer throughout your life.

 

just finished my junior year of undergrad, and after being awake for three days straight during finals, i drank the first thing that was handed to me - a budlight lime. it wasn't bad at all. that being said, i plan on opening something special as soon as my body properly recovers and can handle more alcohol.

 

That's why it says "Average" on the title.

 

Average for "up to" the year 2000?

 

I'm moreso trying to emphasize the fact that a huge margin of graduates over THE PAST FEW YEARS, are all graduating with degrees that their parents pushed them to acquire, only to find a massive unemployment rate, and little room for hiring those without previous experience, and their own refusal to take a job below what their degree dictates.

I didn't get a degree, though I finished high school, and right after dropping out from my 3rd semester in college, took a job with earnings on par with what you have listed as High School level education.

I'm 26 years old now, have worked hard in the real world, and am now on par with what you have listed for those with Master's degrees.

My cousin just got her Masters degree, and is still working as a personal assistant. My other friend also just got their masters, works at Starbucks.

My results aren't typical, but it goes to show you that you don't need college to lead a successful life, and can even hold you back from real life development.

 

Au contraire, college is where I learned a valuable lesson: life doesn't come to you on a silver platter and it is completely up to you to decide what you will do with your life, as it is up to no one else. The threat of my college kicking me out taught me a lesson that has catapulted me through life thus far. If you knew me, you would dare say that college is worthless.

You are also missing a large part of college: it's there to enable you to have a career that you will absolutely love doing. That's what college has allowed me to do, and I don't care if it meets or exceeds the "average" college graduate salary figures. There are obviously some people who go to college that don't realize this... but I certainly hope at one point in their life they will.

 

I am basing this off people that I know and many friends that I've had for years, and who are the same age as I am, have had their MASTERS degrees, and are still living at home with a dead-end job.

I'm not saying that's the norm, but I also don't feel that everybody who does graduate with a degree is guaranteed any sort of projected income, especially in this current economic climate, and competitive job-market.

Maybe I'm just being negative, because I saw college as being a big time waster (besides the parties, those were fun). Maybe I just didn't put the effort in, but I look at my life now, and if I had stuck with it and finished college, I doubt I'd be anywhere near as happy with my career and home life as I would had I finished.

Just my opinions, just as yours are yours.