Watch CBS News

College Degree Does Sweeten The Paycheck

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The median annual earnings of today's young workers are similar to what earlier generations made at the same age - but the disparity between those with and without a college degree has grown.

The Rising Cost of Not Going to College, recently released from the Pew Research Center uses US Census data as well as a survey to capture employment outcomes across generations.

When workers are categorized by educational attainment, the proportion of workers with college degrees has risen. Those with bachelor's degrees earn a little bit more than their counterparts of earlier generations at the same age. Those with high school degrees earn less than any other generations, except Generation X, those born between the early 1960s and middle 1970s.

The picture isn't all rosy for college grads, more of whom are living with their parents and 29% believe they should have majored in something different to prepare for the ideal job.

Read more The Chronicle of Higher Education.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.