What are the Benefits of Higher Education?

According to the 2005 publication The Investment Payoff benefits of a college education include:

• Higher Salaries and Benefits

• More employment options and reduced unemployment

• Higher savings levels

• Improved working conditions

• Increased personal and professional mobility

• Improved health and life expectancy

• Improved quality of life for offspring

Specifically in North Dakota, the benefits of a bachelor’s degree compared to a high school education include the following:

• A 70 percent higher income level
• Five times less likely to be unemployed
• Five times less likely to need public assistance