How important is it?

$28,645 a year High school dropouts earn an average of $19,169 That’s almost $10,000 more a year. In ten years, that’s $100,000 In twenty five years, you will have made a quarter of a million dollars more!

College graduates made an average of $51,554 in 2004 That’s $23,000 a year more than people with only a High School Diploma. Those with advanced college degrees made an average of $78,093. College graduates made an average of $51,554 in 2004 (median American income is about $30,000) That’s $23,000 a year more than people with only a High School Diploma. Those with advanced college degrees made an average of $78,093.

Reasons for Higher Education!

More Reasons to Pursue Higher Education Education is a tool that lets you do what you want to do –Be financially able to travel (Europe, New Zealand, scuba diving, etc.) –Expensive toys, High tech gadgets –Have financial security

High school dropouts are two to four times as likely to be unemployed as those who completed four or more years of college. With a college degree, you have more freedom to choose what kind of job you want to do-- –Do you want a corporate job? –Do you want a commercial or industrial managerial job? –Do you want to do hands-on work? –Do you want to teach? –Do you want to do research? –The possibilities are endless

Earn more money with a higher degree.

Median Incomes for Elementary/secondaryCollege Gender Less than 9th Grade 9th to 12th grade, no degree High school diploma Some college Associate Degree (2 yrs of college) Bachelor's Degree 5 Master's 4 Professional DegreePHD Men21,65926,27735,72541,89544,40457,22071,530100,00082,401 Women17,02319,16226,02930,81633,48141,68151,31675,03668,875

High school graduates are: –Less likely to live at home –More likely to be able to buy a car and rent an apartment –Less likely to need welfare or public assistance

High School You can’t be the coolest kid in school if you are not in school. You get to take electives. Give yourself more options for the future and graduate. “You can earn way more cash which is just as good as money.” – Yogi Berra

College Meet smart, fun and interesting new people (like me). Broaden your horizons Study what you want Get a better job Choose your school

Professional Degree If you want to do any of the following, you need a professional degree: –Medical Degree –Law Degree –Pharmacy –Business –Architecture –Dentistry

With good grades, you can have your college paid for! BILLION dollars was given this year for merit and need- based scholarships, grants, and loans Basically, there is no excuse for not going to college if you want to go!

Work Proof that slaving away in school pays off: –Data suggests that higher educational achievement leads to fewer hours spent working, especially on the weekends. –The time that people wake up in the morning gets later as education levels increase.

If you get a higher education, your future kids are more likely to get a higher degree. If you have a good education, you will be able to pay for your kids college

Dropouts comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation's prison and death row inmates. 82% of prisoners in America are high school dropouts. Respect - Your friends and family will give you props. Plus, once you've graduated, no one can take that away.

Do all you can do and be all you can be. What that is, the world has yet to know. -Rebecca Brosseau

Sources s/stayin.pdfhttp:// s/stayin.pdf ud/reasons.htmhttp:// ud/reasons.htm Time Magazine October 30, 2006, “America by the Numbers”