Student Aid on the Web Skip Navigation

WHAT CAN A COLLEGE EDUCATION DO FOR ME?

Living away from home, making new friends and taking unique courses are all a part of the college experience. But, it gets even better!

A college education will offer you more money, more job choices and more freedom.


More Money

On average, a person who goes to college earns more money than a person who doesn’t.


2005 Annual Income by Educational attainment
*Note: The income is based on year round full-time workers. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement


Though money isn’t the only reason to consider a particular career, remember that a job that pays well offers more personal choices.

Read these real-life examples of how college pays off.

Real-Life Examples

People with a college education typically earn more money during a shorter span of time.

Buying Groceries

  • Terry is a dental assistant (two years of college). Terry will earn enough money to buy groceries for a week after working only one day.
  • Pat is a high school graduate and works as a salesperson in a department store. To buy the same groceries, it takes Pat three days.

Buying a Car

  • Jamie is a college graduate and works as an accountant. Jamie will earn enough money to buy a new four-door compact car in about one year.
  • Chris never went to college and works as an aerobics instructor. It will take Chris about three years to buy the same car.


More Job Opportunities

People with a college education generally have more jobs to choose from.

Also, people with degrees are less likely to lose their jobs (something to keep in mind when you have to pay your own bills someday)!

Take action! Speak with your school counselor or librarian and other adults (your teachers, relatives and family friends) who have jobs you find interesting.


Level of Education

A major benefit of a college degree is having more jobs to choose from. Below are just some possibilities available to college graduates.

Not sure what one of the jobs is? Do a little investigating by looking it up on the Web at www.careervoyages.gov. Check out the in-demand jobs!


2-Year College (Associate degree) 4-Year College (Bachelor's degree) More than 4 Years (Graduate degree)
  • computer and office equipment repairer
  • dental hygienist
  • disc jockey (deejay)
  • firefighter*
  • mechanic
  • physical therapist assistant
  • restaurant manager
  • webmaster*
  • zookeeper*
  • accountant
  • coach
  • computer programmer
  • dancer
  • engineer
  • FBI agent
  • graphic designer
  • insurance agent
  • journalist
  • medical laboratory technician
  • pilot
  • pharmacist
  • photographer
  • social worker
  • sportscaster/news reporter
  • teacher
  • writer
  • architect
  • dentist
  • lawyer
  • minister, priest, or rabbi
  • physician
  • psychologist
  • scientist
  • university professor
*Note: You can also train for these jobs at a four-year college. Why do that? Because more education usually means more earnings!


Want to learn more about career options? Create a MyFSA account so you can check out Career Finder and match your interests with careers.

Here are more career information Web sites to check out:


More Freedom

As a college student, you’ll experience freedom as you never have before, such as

  • living on a college campus with other students,
  • meeting people from all over the country and world,
  • studying abroad (see, it pays to learn a foreign language), and
  • choosing your own cool courses like Cyberspace Culture, Television in American Culture, Writing for the Theatre, or Computer Graphics.


Keep Your Options Open!

Thinking ahead doesn’t mean you have to know right now what you want to do “when you grow up." It’s okay not to know yet.

Even if you’re not sure, keep exploring careers, school choices and financial aid options—be ready!

Want to know where to start? Click here!


Last updated/reviewed March 19, 2008

End of Page