Higher education adds tremendous value to the quality of life enjoyed by individual Americans, the strength of our nation's economy, and the health of our communities. Some of the benefits of higher education include:

• College graduates have the potential for greater annual and lifetime earnings than high school graduates, and those financial benefits tend to increase over time.
• According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, workers with a bachelor's degree earn an average of $57,181 — 86 percent higher than the $31,286 earned by workers with only a high school degree.
• The Census Bureau also estimates that average lifetime earnings were 75 percent higher for those with a bachelor's degree ($2.1 million) than for those with only a high school diploma ($1.2 million).
• In 1975 the mean annual earnings for full-time male college graduates were 50 percent higher than for high school graduates of the same age. By 2002, using the same criteria, mean annual earnings for male college graduates were 94 percent higher than for high school graduates.
• The trend is even more pronounced for women. In 1975, female college graduates earned 45 percent more than female high school graduates. By 2002, that figure had increased to 79 percent.
• A highly educated work force supports a healthy economy. The unemployment rate for college graduates with bachelor's degrees is approximately half the jobless rate for workers with no college experience. College graduates tend to have a broader and better selection of job opportunities than high school graduates, giving them more options and opportunities over time. Broader employment options contribute to increased job satisfaction and upward mobility. Advanced learning is key in an economy that increasingly values brains over brawn.
• Higher learning helps strengthen communities. Research funded by USA Funds indicates that college graduates are less likely to rely on government assistance programs, but college graduates contribute more to fund these programs. In addition, college graduates are more likely to vote than those with only a high school diploma. College grads also are more likely to volunteer for community service.