24 Sep 2015
Video

Mark Schneider on Whether a Bachelor's Is Still Necessary to Earn Middle Class Wages

Traditionally, the bachelor's degree has been seen as the doorway to the middle class for most Americans, but the recent rise of sub-baccalaureate credentials has been transforming higher education. In this video series, "Breakthroughs in Education and Social Mobility," Mark Schneider, AIR vice president and institute fellow, examines the value of such credentials and whether a bachelor's is still necessary to earn middle class wages.

Related Work

10 Aug 2015
Index

AIR Index: Can You Earn Middle-Class Wages Without a Bachelor’s?

While a bachelor’s degree remains a good investment for most students, not all have the time, money, or inclination to complete the degree. Depending on subject studied and location, those with associate’s degrees or certificates often out-earn those holding a bachelor’s. Here are the fast facts.
Topic: 
Higher Education and Career Readiness, Education, Higher Education
29 Apr 2015
News Release

Associate’s Degrees and Certificates Can Be a Path to the Middle-Class, New Report on Colorado Graduates Finds

The number of subbaccalaureate credentials granted in Colorado is rapidly growing with some graduates earning as much as, or even more than, those with bachelor’s degrees. These findings are from a new analysis looking at 10 years of data on graduates of all public and many private institutions in Colorado who work in the state.
3 Sep 2013
Infographic

Higher Pay for Technical Associate's vs. Bachelor's Degree Graduates

As this infographic demonstrates, first year earnings for those with a technical associate's degree is sometimes higher than that of those with bachelor's degrees.
Topic: 
Higher Education and Career Readiness, Higher Education

Further Reading