The skyrocketing cost of college
The math behind the college premium
The rise of alternative career pathways
The non-financial return on investment
Why is the wealth premium for college graduates shrinking despite higher average incomes?

sloane The field of study dramatically dictates early-career and lifetime salary outcomes.
Which organization tracks and reports the underemployment rate of recent college graduates in the US?
sloane College Degree Lifetime Earnings
Is that degree really worth the climb? (Yeah-ah!) A million-plus lifetime!
What percentage of recent US college graduates aged 22 to 27 were underemployed in 2025?
What is the estimated median lifetime earnings gap between a college graduate and a high school graduate?
Major matters: A STEM major earns a median of $40,000 more per year than an education major, making the choice of study vital.
What is the median annual salary for education and public service majors according to Georgetown's CEW?
The difference in average earnings between individuals with a college degree and those with only a high school diploma. Federal Reserve economists Jaison Abel and Richard Deitz found this gap has plateaued near seventy percent.

