The College Degree, The Brass Ring to Workforce Success in America!
Michael Robinson, M.S.
AWARD WINNING EXECUTIVE LEADER! Top 5% Most Viewed LinkedIn Profile in America, 2012. My super-power is helping professionals realize their full potential via transformational leadership/career development edification.
Educational attainment is an important success variable in the U.S. The higher your level of education/training, typically the broader your choices for career employment, professional growth within an organization, and higher income earnings potential over your lifetime.
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As a first generation college student, I can attest to the value and impact of my college degrees. I thank GOD for all the doors He's opened for me scholastically and professionally as a result of me earning my degrees! My mother was wise and audacious in forcing me to attend college. As a young, goofy high school kid, I was unsure about my future and I wasn't intentional about mapping out plans. I'm glad that my mother imposed her will on me to apply for college, it was one of the best decisions she made for me that had long term positive impact on my socio-economic growth, income earnings, and career trajectory! She recognized the value of higher education/degree attainment.
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If you possess a college degree, do not sell yourself short. Your degree brings great value to the interview conversation. You'll be surprised that over 77% of Americans DO NOT possess a Bachelor's degree! According to a published report by The Hive Law group, the overall percentage of Americans possessing college degrees is surprisingly low:
????Associate Degree 9.9%
????Bachelor's Degree 22.6%
????Master's Degree 9.9%
????Professional Degree 2.3%
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College degrees earned by race/ethnicity in the United States:
????60.8% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree.
????44.5% of non-Hispanic whites have a bachelor’s degree.
????28.4% of African Americans have a bachelor’s degree.
????22.1% of Hispanics have a bachelor’s degree.
????The state with the highest population with college degrees is Massachusetts (54.6%).
????The state with the lowest population with college degrees is West Virginia (28.7%).
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Over my lifetime, I've been blessed to earn both a bachelor’s and ?master’s degree. The most coveted degree in America, according to most census data, is the bachelor’s degree.
THE DIFFERENTIAL IN INCOME EARNING, DEGREE vs. NON-DEGREE
"In 2021, median income for recent graduates reached $52,000 a year for bachelor's degree holders aged 22–27.?For high school graduates the same age, median earnings are $30,000 a year." - Association of Public & Land Grant Universities
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If you're seeking a professional career within industry, it's best to earn a degree, ideally a bachelor’s degree.? The bachelor’s degree is typically the brass ring to better employment and higher income earning opportunities.
"2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics data..."someone with a college degree will earn $524 more per week,?$27,000 more per year, and $1 million more over a lifetime than someone with only a high school diploma or less." - WRAL 5 News/Raleigh, NC
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I applaud all of you that are in pursuit of your college degree. You make America's workforce talent pool more competitive and workforce ready. The journey to earning that degree can be arduous, but it's truly worth it. Grind hard, cry, scream, kick, and limp along the way, but earn that degree by any means necessary, cross that stage! You can do it!
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Regards,
Rev. Michael Robinson, M.S.
Director, Community Outreach & Hiring
Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative