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More Education = Over 1 Million Dollars More In Lifetime Earnings

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people obtaining a Master's Degree earn 2.5 million dollars over their lifetime as compared to 1.1 million dollars earned by those with only a high school diploma.  A chart summarizing these findings is shown at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2002/fall/oochart.pdf.

Also, the data at the U.S. Census Bureau shows the following annual incomes:

Not a high school graduate     $21,332         
High school graduate           $27,351         
Some college                   $31,988        
Bachelor degree                $42,877        
Advanced degree                $55,242    

How Does Amount Of Mathematics Taken Factor In?

A graphic from the The American Educator, Spring 04 edition shows the relationship between amount of mathematics taken and success in obtaining a four-year degree.

Getting a four-year college degree may depend a lot on much math you learn.

  79.8% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO TAKE CALCULUS GET A B.A.  
  PRE CALCULUS: 74.3%  
  TRIGONOMETRY: 62.2%  
  ALGEBRA II: 39.5%  
    GEOMETRY: 23.1%
    ALGEBRA I: 7.8%
Percentage of high school graduates earning a B.A. by highest level math course taken in high school.

Although one can not state a direct cause-effect relationship, there definitely appears to be a trend. Could the more difficult courses like Calculus serve as a means of teaching the student how to solve difficult problems in many non-math courses of study?

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