The benefits of a college degree continue to blossom.

More people have college degrees.

• 29% of people aged 25 to 34 have now completed four or more years of college. That number was 23% in 1992.
• There has been a 33% increase in the number of college graduates aged 25 to 64 working full time.
• Among workers in this age group, the proportion rose from 26% to 33%.

College degrees deliver more options.

• Simply finishing your degree offers new opportunities in all fields.
• A 1997 NCES survey found that four years after obtaining a bachelor’s degree, only 55% of grads were in jobs related to their major.

College grads get better promotions.

• Supervisors continue to interpret a degree as a sign of a serious worker.
• In 2000, 24% of supervisors in administrative support and clerical occupations had a college degree, even though college grads constitute only 14% of this field.
• Similarly, 32% of supervisory police and detectives held a college degree despite college grads being only 21% of the regular force.

Learn more and earn more.

• Among the top 25% of full-time wage and salary earners in 2000, 58% had a college degree.
• More education means higher earnings for life. A new report shows that earnings climb right along with level of degree.

Higher degrees mean lower unemployment.

• The unemployment rate in 2000 was 1.8% for those with a college degree compared with 3.5% for high school graduates.
• New and replacement job openings remain high for those positions that require post-secondary education or at least a year of training.