Education gives you the power to create your future
What would you say if someone offered you the opportunity to make twice as much money at a job? Kind of a no-brainer, right?
So think about this: According to statistics from the United States government, people with a college degree earn nearly twice as much as those who stop with a high school diploma. In fact, recent figures show that in today's dollars, a bachelor's degree is worth more than $2.1 million over 40 years.
Yes, it does cost money to go to college, but no matter how you look at it, a college education is the best investment you can make. And, there are plenty of options to help pay for college, including scholarships, grants, work-study programs and loans. (See pages 42-47 for more information on financial aid and scholarships.) Once you have that degree, it's an investment that keeps paying off.
The bottom line is that more learning equals more earning. To give you a good example of how your earning power affects your daily life, check out the quiz on the next page and think about the type of future and lifestyle you want to have. Unless you're satisfied with settling for the bare minimum, an education is the best way to guarantee that you'll get that future.
Of course, life is more than just a paycheck. College also gives you the opportunity to pursue what really interests you. Up until now, you've been told what you had to take in school and when you had to take it. In college, you choose what kind of courses you want to pursue. If you're doing something you love, you're going to be good at it-and that confidence will make you a hot commodity in the workplace.
There are also plenty of other options in college. You don't necessarily have to go the traditional four-year route. Two-year community colleges offer a wide range of programs and career opportunities. Technical and career schools provide hands-on learning courses that will prepare you for one of many positions that are in high demand. Online courses allow you to work your classes around other obligations and demands.
The choices you make now will be ones that affect the rest of your life. Now is the best time to take control of your future. Don't the opportunity pass you by.
