College Degree Value Compared to Career Earnings

Is college worth it? It turns out, that's the wrong question. I'm excited to share that I have updated my analysis of college return on investment (ROI) for The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity! ROI is defined as how much a college degree is expected to increase a student's lifetime earnings, after accounting for the cost of college and the risk of not finishing. Our report calculates ROI for over 53,000 degree and certificate programs. Some key findings: - Bachelor’s degree programs have a median ROI of $160,000, but the payoff varies by field of study. Engineering, computer science, nursing, and economics degrees have the highest ROI. - Associate degree and certificate programs have variable ROI, depending on the field of study. Two-year degrees in liberal arts have no ROI, while certificates in the technical trades have a higher payoff than the typical bachelor’s degree. - Nearly half of master’s degree programs leave students financially worse off. However, professional degrees in law, medicine, and dentistry are extremely lucrative. - Around a third of federal Pell Grant and student loan funding pays for programs that do not provide students with a return on investment. You can find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/esfXc3M8 And if you want to look up ROI for your own college, check out our brand-new dashboard here: https://lnkd.in/eFRpCvtp

As college graduation season winds down, our new report finds many Americans are skeptical about the value of a college degree. At the same time, economic outcomes for young adults with and without a four-year degree are improving. Especially notable, after decades of decline, earnings are trending up for young men without a bachelor’s degree. Here are some of the key findings from our new survey and analysis of government data: ✔ 40% of Americans say it’s not too or not at all important to have a college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today’s economy. About half say having a degree is less important now than it was 20 years ago. ✔ Only 22% say the cost of getting a four-year degree is worth it even if a person has to take out loans; 47% say the cost is worth it but only if a person doesn’t have to take out loans (29% say it’s not worth it at all). ✔ Earnings for young adults with and a without a four-year degree have gone up over the past 10 years. The gap in earnings between these two groups hasn’t narrowed significantly. ✔ The typical net worth of young adults with and without a college degree has also increased over the past decade. ✔ Labor force participation for young men without a college degree, which had also been declining for decades, has stabilized. For young women across educational groups, labor force participation has increased over the last ten years. 

🎓 Some good news for your Monday! 🌟 Amidst the debates on the value of a college education, our collaborative research with the North Carolina General Assembly brings a fresh perspective. The findings? A degree from the UNC System’s universities translates to a significant $500,000 median lifetime return on investment compared to non-degree holders in North Carolina. 📈 Even more inspiring is the impact on social mobility: nearly 90% of low-income students climb the economic ladder post-graduation. Diane Cheng of IHEP reminds us, "The evidence is clear: bachelor’s degree recipients from the UNC System fare better in lifetime earnings than fellow state residents without degrees." This isn’t just about numbers; it's about strategic state investment in postsecondary education, reaping benefits for students and communities alike. 🎓💡 Kudos to the team at Burning Glass Institute for illuminating the enduring value and potential of higher education. Here's to empowering more students with the opportunities they deserve! #EducationROI #EconomicMobility #UNCSystem #HigherEdImpact https://lnkd.in/eYHQ7AZH