A college degree or certificate can mean more career opportunities and a highe rsalary. College graduates, on average, earned 56 percent more than high school grads in 2015, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Certificate/Degree Level 2016 Unemployment Rate (%) 2016 Median Usual weekly earnings ($)
 Doctoral degree 1.6% $1,623
Professional degree 1.6% $1,730
 Master’s degree 2.4% $1,341
Bachelor’s degree 2.7% $1,137
Associate degree 3.6% $798
Some college, no degree 4.4% $738
High school diploma 5.2% $678
Less than a high school diploma 7.4% $493