| business definition of earning potential, according to | | | | Associate’s degree in respiratory therapy will |
| bnet.com, is the amount of money an individual will be | | | | qualify you for entry-level positions as a respiratory |
| able to earn in his professional capacity. | | | | therapist, whose average annual income is $52,200.** |
| One of the biggest expectations that everyone has | | | | Now that’s a fair deal in return for two years |
| always had from education is to increase earning | | | | of education, wouldn’t you say? |
| potential. However, this has taken a whole new | | | | A Bachelor’s degree can boost these earnings |
| meaning post recession. It won’t be an | | | | further, especially if you are smart about the major |
| exaggeration to say that for many, the only reason | | | | you pick. There are some rewarding careers like |
| to invest time and money on college education is to | | | | accounting, computer science, and healthcare |
| increase their capacity to earn. | | | | administration for which a Bachelor’s degree is |
| What lends credibility to the phrase the more you | | | | the minimum qualification. A Bachelor’s degree |
| learn, the more you earn is the data for median | | | | will not just increase your earning potential, but also |
| annual earnings by educational attainment released by | | | | provide you a wider base of quality jobs from which |
| the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the bureau, the | | | | to choose. |
| annual income of high school graduates or equivalent | | | | Needless to say, with professional and graduate |
| is $27,448. The earnings start rising as the level of | | | | degree programs like MBA, law, or medicine, the sky |
| education increases, with those who have some | | | | is the limit as far as earning potential is concerned. |
| college or an Associate’s degree making | | | | However, you should go down that road only if you |
| $33,838 per year and those with a Bachelor’s | | | | have the inclination and the resources for extensive |
| degree earning $47,853. The income of graduate or | | | | schooling that these professions require. |
| Master’s degree holders is the highest at | | | | Taking a cue from students who are in a rush to join |
| $63,174.* If there was ever a doubt in your mind | | | | the workforce, many universities and colleges have |
| about the significance of college education in | | | | also introduced accelerated degree programs that |
| increasing your earning potential, then surely these | | | | allow students to complete their post-secondary |
| numbers should clear it. | | | | education in a shorter span of time than that |
| Yes, college is probably going to eat up a | | | | afforded through traditional colleges and universities. |
| considerable chunk of your parents’ savings or | | | | Such degrees are a brilliant idea because the sooner |
| you might have to fund it by taking a student loan, | | | | you finish school, the sooner you can start making a |
| but it’s an investment that is likely to bear rich | | | | living. |
| dividends through your life. And there are several | | | | Whichever field you choose to enter, college degree |
| options available to suit everyone’s goals. | | | | programs can help you reach the next level not just |
| If academics are not your forte, it doesn’t | | | | in terms of a paycheck, but also the quality of your |
| mean you have to rule out college altogether. You | | | | life! |
| can still increase your earning potential by pursuing a | | | | *U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community |
| two-year Associate’s degree in fields like | | | | Survey |
| healthcare or computers where there is a huge | | | | **Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. |
| demand for trained workers. For example, an | | | | |