The Evolution of Postsecondary Education

The Evolution of Postsecondary Education The many benefits of a four-year bachelor's degree have been well documented: higher earnings, higher rates of employment, better average health. But recently, education experts have made the case why other postsecondary pursuits, such as vocational training, certification programs, and two-year degrees, offer powerful alternatives to a traditional – and costly – bachelor's degree. of people with associate's degrees earn more than the average bachelor's degree recipient 27% of people with postsecondary licenses or certificates 31% Education and earings not necessarily linked earn more than the average bachelor's degree recipient First-line supervisors/managers of firefighting and prevention workers $72.647 Job growth by education level 2008–18 Firefighters $59.969 19.1% degree Associate's $49.974 Postal service clerks 16.6% degree Bachelor's College graduates (2008 average salary) $49.435 10.1% All occupations 13.2% vocational award Postsecondary $39.979 Bailiffs, correctional officers,and jailers Billing and posting clerks and machine operators $27.985 ksa PLUS Sources: "Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow," U.S. Council of Economic Advisors, 2009; "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2010; "What's it Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors," Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2011; "Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century," Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2011; U.S. Department of Labor statistics communications