A VSU diploma opens the door to higher earnings and better opportunities

A high school graduate who earns a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University will earn nearly $1.4 million more over his or her lifetime, bringing his or her average lifetime earnings to just over $3 million. Advanced degrees boost those earnings even more, because lifetime earnings increase dramatically with educational attainment. According to the Lifetime Earnings for the University System of Georgia Class of 2023 study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, high school graduates who earn a bachelor’s degree will increase their lifetime earnings by 82 percent in Georgia and by 80 percent across the U.S.

VALDOSTA — A high school graduate who earns a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University will earn nearly $1.4 million more over his or her lifetime, bringing his or her average working-life earnings to just over $3 million. Advanced degrees boost those earnings even more, because working-life earnings increase dramatically with educational attainment.

According to the Lifetime Earnings for the University System of Georgia Class of 2023 study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, high school graduates who earn a bachelor’s degree will increase their lifetime earnings by 82 percent in Georgia and by 80 percent across the U.S.

“With our new strategic plan—VSU2030—we are renewing our commitment to creating career-ready graduates by aligning our programs of study with student and employer demand and ensuring that our students leave VSU with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in their professional and personal lives,” said Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, VSU president. “We truly believe in the transformative power of higher education and truly want every VSU graduate to have the opportunity to pursue the future of their choosing.

“This study provides the clearest evidence yet that pursuing a college degree is one of the best decisions a person can make. It shows that a VSU degree is a transformational investment that not only opens the door to a lifetime of earning potential, but also changes lives, strengthens families, and lifts entire communities in ways that might not otherwise be possible.”

In the report, Dr. Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, noted that the most relevant measure of the economic “value” of a college education is growth in lifetime earnings. His team prepared estimates of lifetime earnings by educational attainment for Georgia and the United States based on median personal income data from the Census Bureau’s most recent five-year American Community Survey.

Humphreys explained that the earnings boost associated with a degree varies by person, time, geographic region and field of study. However, according to the report, it is possible to approximate the total benefits for VSU graduates from the Class of 2023, as well as the benefits for the average degree holder.

He added that these estimates are important because they show the extent to which higher education pays off, which can motivate students, employers, employees and policymakers to undertake and support postgraduate education.

Visit https://www.usg.edu/assets/usg/docs/news_files/USG_Lifetime_Earnings_2023.pdf to read the entire 17-page report.

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