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13 Mar 2013
Report

Higher Education Pays: The Initial Earnings of Graduates from Colorado’s Colleges and Universities Working in Colorado

Mark Schneider

Colorado has one of the most highly educated adult populations in the United States, ranking third in the nation for college graduates, after the District of Columbia and Massachusetts. The concentration of advanced degree holders in Colorado is also above the national average. This high level of educational attainment is matched by a concentration of high-tech jobs; Colorado ranks fifth in the nation in the concentration of high-tech employment.

Because of Colorado’s skilled workforce and its modern economy, higher education pays off for those who earn postsecondary credentials. Graduates with postsecondary degrees working in Colorado after graduation can average as much as $20,000 more than high school graduates. This bump in wages is not only among students who have earned a bachelor’s degree. Indeed, early in their careers, graduates of two-year degree programs, especially students completing an Associate in Applied Science degree, can earn as much or even more than graduates with a bachelor’s degree.

PDF icon Higher Education Pays: The Initial Earnings of Graduates from Colorado’s Colleges and Universities Working in Colorado

Related Work

3 Sep 2013
Report

combined-state-college-earningsv6-hp.gif

Infographic: Associates vs. Bachelors degrees

Higher Education Pays: But a Lot More for Some Graduates Than for Others

Prospective college students need sound information about where their educational choices are likely to lead. This report indicates that some graduates with associate's degrees outearn those with bachelor's degrees in their first year, and finds what a person studies can produce higher earnings than where he or she studies.

Topic: 
Postsecondary Education
13 Mar 2013
News Release

First Year Earnings of Recent College Graduates in Colorado Vary Widely, Depending Upon Their School and Their Degree, New Report Finds

A new report conducted by AIR's Mark Schneider shows there is wide variation in the income of recent graduates of Colorado’s colleges and universities, with those receiving an Associate of Applied Sciences degree typically earning more than those with a Bachelor’s degree during their first year in the workforce.

Further Reading

  • First Year Earnings of Recent College Graduates in Colorado Vary Widely, Depending Upon Their School and Their Degree, New Report Finds
  • Colorado: Ten Years Out, the Pay Gap Narrows for Those with Different Levels of Education
  • The Value of Higher Education
  • Report: In Texas, First-Year Income of Certificate Holders Can Exceed Earnings of Those with Associate’s or Bachelor’s
  • Education Pays in Colorado: Earnings 1, 5, and 10 Years After College
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Postsecondary Education

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