Relationship Between Education And Income
Passion May Trump A Degree

What is the relationship between education and income? If you're a high school student browsing your options before you graduate, or if you're a parent who's not sure what direction to send your teen, this is the article for you.

So often we hear that a higher education is the key to future happiness in life – education unlocks so many doors and can be one of the most invaluable, amazing experiences of a person's life.

But while we know that a college degree (or two, or three) can enable us to get our dream job, have we ever really looked at the relationship between education and income? Is it really in our best interest to attend college?

The answer is, for the most part, “yes.” The relationship between education and income is direct, and the gaining a college education most likely will increase your chances of earning a higher salary.

There is a caveat, however. Those who enter into the workforce right after high school will probably make more money in the first few years of their post-high school life as compared to those who instead, go to college.

This is not surprising – as college students either work part-time or don't work at all during the four years they're in school.

As well, many college students have to pay off education loans for years after their time in school. So these are two things to consider as you look at the early relationship between education and income.

But soon thereafter, things change dramatically. As college students pursue their careers, they gradually get promoted and start earning an income that those with no degrees can no longer compete with.

While this is not always the case, the statistics show it happens more times than not. It’s true that plenty of people are ambitious and hard-working enough to where they earn a great living without ever graduating from college. A university education is hardly for everyone.

Take Bill Gates, for example. A Harvard dropout – he did pretty well as defined by most.

Similarly, some college graduates opt for low-paying careers or do not do well in the workforce. When we talk about the relationship between education and income, we are only talking about a general trend.

Bottom line is that there are no guarantees in life. While an upper graduate degree may be an indicator for greater success in the future, that really is up to you, not your degree.

So unless your teen has a full idea of what he or she wants to do with his or her life, going to college is definitely a step in the right direction.

However, if he or she is clear about a future that does not require a college degree, and the work is something they are passionate about, you would do well not to totally discount their ambitions. They may just be the next Bill Gates!

If you or your teen is not sure which route to take in life, consider reading Dr. Orison Swett Marden's book “Self-Investment".

In “Self-Investment,” you will learn that there are ways to prepare yourself to be self-reliant and successful in life that don't involve investing in outside material possessions, but instead involve working on one's own self improvement.

This concept greatly ties into education – a college education may very well be one of the greatest investments in yourself that you can possibly make!

You can download five other classic books by Dr. Marden with the Leadership Series For Successful Living.

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