| These days, the rising cost of college tuition has many | | | | liberal arts or social sciences. Unless you go on to |
| people questioning the value of a college education. | | | | pursue a PhD, a Master's degree doesn't get you |
| They wonder if it is still worth it to invest in a degree. | | | | much of a return on your investment in terms of |
| This is especially true when it means putting off | | | | increased salary. So, think carefully before you put a |
| employment for at least two more years for an | | | | lot of money into one. Of course, if your employer |
| Associate's degree, or four more years for a | | | | offers to pay for it, it's a great way to enhance your |
| Bachelor's degree. Some people fear that the steep | | | | skills! |
| debt they will accumulate, along with the lost years of | | | | One exception is the MBA (Master's of Business |
| work just aren't worth it in the long run. But arguably, | | | | Administration). Anyone in finance, marketing or |
| they are wrong. | | | | business management who wants to move into upper |
| Despite the fact that the cost of higher education has | | | | management or the executive levels of their business |
| risen faster than inflation, the pay-off is still strong. The | | | | will likely need to pursue an MBA at some point. These |
| difference in wages between an employee with a high | | | | degrees are worth every penny and then some. |
| school education and an employee with an Associate's | | | | Finally, law degrees and medical degrees are the most |
| or Bachelor's degree is significant. | | | | expensive investments of all. But, they are also the |
| With some research, you can find out which college | | | | most lucrative. Although you may graduate in debt to |
| degrees offer the most bang for your buck. If you're | | | | the tune of six figures, you'll make over a million dollars |
| on a tight budget and want to get the most return on | | | | across your lifetime. So, you will easily be able to pay |
| your education dollar, an Associate's degree may be | | | | off any debts and still enjoy living a very comfortable |
| the way to go. The payback on an Associate's | | | | lifestyle. |
| degree over a high school diploma is huge. After only | | | | The statistics don't lie. In 2006, the Census Bureau |
| two years of schooling at a relatively low tuition rate, | | | | reported a Bachelor's degree meant about $27,000 |
| you can increase your salary by as much as | | | | more per year in income compared to a high school |
| twenty-five percent. Particularly good Associate's | | | | graduate. Averaging that out over a lifetime and taking |
| degree programs include anything in the computer | | | | into consideration that you typically only pay for college |
| technology or engineering fields. | | | | for four years, it's obvious that a college education |
| Bachelor's degrees are also great for increasing your | | | | quickly pays for itself. |
| earning potential, and are necessary for many fields. | | | | In fact, over a lifetime, typical college graduates make |
| With a Bachelor's degree, the pay-off is greater over | | | | between $300,000 and one million dollars more than |
| a longer period of time. You'll see the long-term | | | | high school graduates after you adjust for tuition, room |
| benefits in terms of promotions, and whether you're | | | | & board and lost income while attending school. |
| considered qualified for certain positions. | | | | There's little doubt that earning some type of college |
| Master's degrees are less profitable, particularly in the | | | | degree is well worth your time and money. |