VSU Bachelor’s Degree Earns Nearly $1.4 Million More

VALDOSTA – A study has found that graduates with a bachelor’s degree from VSU will earn nearly $1.4 million more in their lifetime.

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A high school graduate who earns a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University earns nearly $1.4 million more over their lifetime, bringing their average work-life income to just over $3 million. Advanced degrees boost those earnings even more, as work-life incomes increase dramatically with education level.

According to the Lifetime Earnings for University System of Georgia Class of 2023 study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, high school seniors who earn a bachelor’s degree will increase their work-life income by 82 percent in Georgia, and by 80 percent across the United States.

“With our new strategic plan — VSU2030 — we are renewing our commitment to creating career-ready graduates by aligning our educational options with student and employer demand and ensuring our students leave VSU with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to succeed in their professional and personal lives,” said Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, VSU President. “We truly believe in the transformative power of higher education, and we sincerely want every VSU graduate to have the opportunity to pursue the future of their choosing.”

“This study provides the clearest evidence yet that pursuing further education is one of the best decisions anyone can ever make. It shows that a VSU degree is a transformative investment that not only opens doors to a lifetime of earning potential, but also changes lives, strengthens families, and lifts entire communities in ways that might not otherwise be possible.”

In the report, Dr. Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, noted that the most relevant measure of the economic “value” of a college degree is increased earnings over a working life. His team prepared estimates of work-life earnings by education level for Georgia and the U.S. using median personal earned income data from the Census Bureau’s most recent five-year American Community Survey.

Humphreys explained that the earnings gains associated with a degree vary from person to person, over time, geographically, and by field of study. However, the report says it is possible to provide a rough approximation of the total benefits for VSU’s class of 2023 graduates, as well as benefits accruing to the average degree holder.

These estimates are important, he added, because they show the extent to which higher education pays off. This can motivate students, employers, workers and policymakers to pursue and support further education.

Visit https://www.usg.edu/assets/usg/docs/news_files/USG_Lifetime_Earnings_2023.pdf to read the full 17-page report.

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