The Dollars and Cents of a Four-Year Degree

The longer you stay in school the better off you are when it comes to earning potential over the course of your lifetime. Recent estimates have found when it comes to the importance of an education there are some rather astonishing figures to support the claim of higher earning.

A high school diploma will net the average individual an additional $200,000 income over a lifetime. Some college without a degree will increase that figure an additional $150,000 totaling $350,000. A four-year degree increases this figure another $500,000 to total $850,000 in earning potential over the course of a lifetime. These figures can be found to be a nice motivator for going back and finishing a degree.

Businesses need a defining factor by which to narrow down the field of potential employees. That factor is often a college degree. Since ability and capabilities are among the things you just can't see on a piece of paper, education is used. Even though a person's education may not be a true measurement of his or her actual ability, it is often used in the business world to narrow down the growing field of applicants.

This may not seem fair to the many people who have the practical skills needed. However, companies are now seeking employees that can fill multiple roles. They are looking to consolidate positions that were occupied by several people in the past. Unfortunately, the only way to show whether or not you have these specific skills is if you list them on your resume. Those individuals who have a four-year degree are believed to have the necessary skills by the merit of their educations. A college education provides a brief introduction to many skills that employers are seeking.

Even if the earning potential alone is not enough incentive when it comes to the importance of earning a college degree, perhaps the reasons below will provide a little additional motivation.

1) Reaching for a degree gives challenge. Not much in life offers the same level of challenge of as returning to college. It can be frightening and exciting at the same time. Returning to school can open your eyes to new ideas. Learning challenges your preconceptions and tests the limits of your own experiences. Continuing education can open your mind to the thoughts and ideas of others.

2)A degree forces you to learn new skills. There is never a bad time to begin learning new skills. There is no age restriction on expanding your intellect. The truth is that as long as you open your mind to learning you are feeding your intellect and gaining new skills.

3) A degree can provide career advancement. Whether you realize it or not, a college degree is one of the quickest paths you can take to career advancement. It shows everyone around you your desire to improve.

Hopefully you can see how much a degree can affect you. It can improve so many things about your life. A degree improves how you view yourself and how you see the world around you. Make now the time to go back to school and earn your degree.