A recent report from the State Higher Education Executive Officers provides clear evidence of the economic value of a four-year college degree. The authors of the report use data from the Census Bureau to examine the actual wage and salary income of employed persons age 18 to 64 years working full-time.
In general, higher levels of education are associated with higher incomes. For Pennsylvania, the report shows that workers with a bachelor’s degree had a median income of $48,366 compared to a median income of $30,754 for those with only a high school diploma. Pennsylvania workers with an associate’s degree had a median income of $37,422. The highest median income ($67,033) was associated with Pennsylvania workers with a graduate or professional degree.
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers (2012). The Economic Benefit of Postsecondary Degrees: A State and National Level Analysis.
For more information on the Economic Benefit of a College Degree, click here.