A college degree is one of the most valuable investments an individual can make. In general, postsecondary education leads to opportunities to improve one's quality of life, earn more money over a lifetime, be more involved as a citizen, and depend less on public assistance.

On average, four-year college graduates:

• Earn almost twice as much as students who do not graduate college;
• Are more likely to be employed and, when unemployed, more likely to find new jobs faster than those who have only a high school diploma;
• Are financially better off than their peers who do not have degrees; and
• Enjoy more job-related benefits — such as better health care, longer vacations, and better work conditions — than their peers who do not have degrees.

When compared to nongraduates, four-year college graduates:

• Enjoy increased life expectancy and better general health;
• Provide an improved quality of life for themselves and their children;
• Are more likely to become involved in civic life;
• Enjoy increased social status; and
• Are in a better position to save and contribute to savings plans at higher rates.*

• Benefits of college for DC and the nation
  

*Williams, Adriane, and Swail, Watson Scott. Is More Better?