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A bar chart showing the financial benefits of a college degree, based on July 2024 median yearly full-time earnings and educational attainment according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures are $47,632 for high school diploma with no college; $54,964 for associate's degree or some college; $80,132 for bachelor's degree; and $98,644 for master's degree and higher.

How earning a degree impacts career earnings and value

July 18, 2024  ·  2 minutes  ·  By Tyler Hansen

There is immense personal value in earning a bachelor’s degree. It’s a badge of honor you carry with you for life.

And it’s a game-changer in the job market.

Albert Diaz, Oregon State University Ecampus computer science graduate, lifting his son in the air.Play

To boost his career, Albert Diaz enrolled online with OSU Ecampus to pursue his postbaccalaureate degree in computer science. His plan paid off.

By earning your bachelor’s degree, you could earn as much as $1 million more than someone with a high school diploma over the course of a career, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Also, a report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that people who have earned a four-year degree have better employment prospects and enjoy higher earnings than those with some college experience but no degree.

Many students who have earned their degrees online with Oregon State University Ecampus can attest to the direct impact their academic success had on their careers. Among them is Maria Carpenter, whose bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences immediately led to a role as a rangeland management specialist with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Oregon State Ecampus delivers more than 100 degrees, certificate and microcredentials online and at a distance. Explore our offerings today and find the program that best matches your interests and career aspirations.


Discover more about the Oregon State Ecampus online learning experience and the programs and courses we deliver online.

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Categories: Advancing Your Career, All Stories, Ecampus, Online Learning Experience, Resources

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Tyler Hansen

Tyler Hansen is a writer for Oregon State University Ecampus. He primarily writes feature stories on the Oregon State students and faculty who learn and teach online, news stories and articles that provide readers with the information they need to continue their educational journeys. Prior to starting at Oregon State in 2011, he worked as a sports writer, journalism teacher and arts and entertainment editor.

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