Earn More With An Advanced Degree
You will hear it a lot. Want more money? Get a degree. Is that accurate? It turns out that it is. The basic premise, those with degrees will make more money over their lifetime than those without a higher education or advance degree.
Compare a high school graduate to a college graduate. Over the course of a life time a college graduate will earn $2.1 million dollars while a high school graduate can expect to earn on average roughly $1.2 million. What about higher degrees? Someone with a masters degree earns about $2.5 million. Those who have earned their PhD can expect an average of $3.4 million. These numbers come from a report called THE BIG PAYOFF published by the Census Bureau.
Let’s look a little deeper at these numbers. Those who drop out of high school earn about $18,900 a year. High school graduates make around $25,900. However a college graduate can expect to make, again, on average, about $45,000 while doctors, dentists, lawyers and other with professional degrees can expect about $99,300. This means that someone with a professional degree can earn about $80,000 more per year than a high school dropout! That is quite a gap.
What if your formal education stopped at high school graduation? Don’t worry. There’s still time. It’s not easy to earn your degree, but it has become a lot easier than it used to be. We’re not talking about diploma mills. It will require studying, doing homework and proving that you have mastered the material by passing tests. But the ways of doing this have changed. Online college degree programs are designed specifically for working adults. You can take classes and earn your diploma or degree from anywhere you have access to a computer and the internet. You can study during the hours that fit your schedule and earn your degree at your own pace.
So is online education right for you? First and foremost what are your goals and plans? You need to answer that first. Once you know what your specific goals are, you need to find an online college with a program that can help you meet those goals. Make sure you talk to friends and family and see if anyone you know has gone to school online. Referrals are always important. Double check that the school you’re considering is an accredited institution and that you’ll be able to transfer the units you earn should you decide to.
You’ve picked a road to follow and have a school that is going to help you get there. Now how do you pay for this new adventure? If you have done your homework in picking a school then you will already have some idea as to the answer. There should be a Financial Aid department at your chosen school. They can help you put together a plan to finance your degree. Don’t allow the word AID to get in your way. This isn’t about handouts. There are financial aid advisors who are well versed in how to pay for higher education through loans, scholarships, grants and cash payments. Ask your financial aid advisor a lot of questions and make sure that you feel comfortable with their expertise. He or she can be every bit as vital to your success as your academic advisor.
Obtaining a higher income is possible through obtaining a higher degree, but first you must do your homework about what you want, the degree you wish to obtain, how much it will cost and what you can expect in Financial Aid. Once you have that mastered you will be on your way to completing the homework need to obtain your degree. Study your options and study hard!
If you’re ready to pursue your education, start with an online college education. You’re sure to find the online military college that’s right for you.