What You Should Know
Like other college-bound students, you probably have spent many hours visiting campuses, completing applications, taking admissions exams and deciding which college to attend.
Getting accepted to college is exciting, but it is just the beginning. You also need to learn how to succeed once you are there.
This article offers information to help you make the most of your college
years. It includes tips for:
- Getting off to a good start.
- Achieving academic success.
- Having fun.
- Staying healthy.
- Managing your money.
With preparation, planning and persistence, your college years can be an exciting time of learning, developing your skills,
meeting new and diverse individuals and building enduring friendships.
College is hard work, but it is worth the effort. See the chart below and how the average annual earnings vary with education levels.
| College
Pays Off |
| According
to the U.S. Census
Bureau, the more college
you complete, the higher
your average annual
income* — and
the higher your potential
lifetime earnings.** |
| Education
Level |
Average
Annual Income* |
| Professional Degree***
|
$109,600 |
| Doctoral Degree****
|
$ 89,400 |
| Master’s Degree
|
$ 62,300 |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
$ 52,200 |
| High School Diploma
|
$ 30,400 |
| No
High School Diploma |
$ 23,400 |
| Education
Level |
Potential
Lifetime Earnings** |
| Professional
Degree |
$4.4
Million |
| Doctoral
Degree |
$3.4
Million |
| Master’s
Degree |
$2.5
Million |
| Bachelor’s
Degree |
$2.1
Million |
| High
School Diploma |
$1.2
Million |
| No
High School Diploma |
$1.0 Million |
*Workers age 18 and older.
**Based on a 2002
U.S. Commerce Department Census Bureau report, “The Big Payoff:Educational Attainment and
Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings.”
***Usually obtained after a bachelor’s degree
in fields such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or law.
****Normally is a Ph.D. — Doctor of Philosophy.
|
Topics covered in this section are:
|
Education
Education