Page 43 - Keys To Community College Success

KEY 1.1 More education is likely to mean more income.

Median annual income of persons with income 25 years old and over, by gender and highest level of education, 2009

Bachelor’s degree
or more
The Rewards of College
Associate’s degree

Some college,
no degree

High school graduate

Men Women
Some high school, no diploma

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000
Income (in dollars)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, 2009.” Current Population Reports, Series P60–238,
September 2010.

KEY 1.2 More education is likely to mean more consistent employment.

Unemployment rates of persons 25 years old and over, by highest level of education, 2009
all education
levels 7.9

Bachelor’s degree or higher 5.2

Associate’s degree 6.8
Some college, no degree 8.6

High school graduate, no college 9.7

Less than high school graduate 14.6

0 3 6 9 12 15
Percent unemployed

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics. “Current Population Survey.” May 2010.

21st century skills. Taking a careful look at what the current workplace demands of
workers and what it rewards, education and business leaders founded an organization
called the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Together these leaders developed a
“Framework for 21st Century Learning” shown in Key 1.3, delineating the categories
of knowledge and skills that successful workers need to acquire.

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