CHAPTER 8

The College Equation

Steps 10 Through 14

23- to 25-year-olds with bachelor’s degrees make $12,000 more than high school graduates but by age 50, the gap has grown to $46,500. When we look at lifetime earnings . . . the total premium is $570,000 for a bachelor’s degree and $170,000 for an associate’s degree.

—Brookings Institution

Key Points

• Although you certainly want a college education that will prepare you to get your first job, it’s more important to prepare for success—not just in that job, but in your entire career and your life.

• Selection of your major is at least as important as your selection of a school in getting a job that makes use of your education.

• Healthcare, engineering, computer science, and ...

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