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Earn College Credit in High School

Education Pays Off

The following chart illustrates the pay off for education. The chart represents total work experience and the average annual earnings by education level for all races, both men and women between the age of 25 and 34. You can clearly see the more education you achieve, the more money you can expect to make in your lifetime. It's never too soon to begin career exploration and planning.

Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 2009. Internet release date 12/15/2010. Available online at http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/

Do the Math

Notice the difference in wages for a person with a high school diploma and a person with an Associate Degree? If you do the math, it comes out to $7,317 difference. Now multiply the $7317.00 times 40 years (or more) you will work and it comes out to $292,680 more you can expect to make during your lifetime.

Now look at the difference between a high school diploma and a Bachelor's degree. The person with the Bachelor's degree can expect to make $20,221 more per year. When you multiply that by 40 years, it comes out to $808,840.00 more you will make during your lifetime.

Visit the Texas Workforce Commission's Reality Check at http://www.cdr.state.tx.us/realitycheck/ This website allows individuals to explore budgeting the level of earnings required to support specific standards of living as well as career interests and salaries.