A college education is an investment that will pay you back for a lifetime. People with a college degree have the foundation to help them better understand life’s experiences, think critically, express themselves clearly, and make wise decisions. Furthermore, they also have better job opportunities and greater potential, earn more money, and develop skills and knowledge that can never be taken away.
Census Bureau statistics show the annual income for a person with a college degree is more than 60 percent higher than for a high school graduate. For example, in 2001, a person with a college degree earned approximately $17,800 more in that year than a person who did not go to college. Someone with a two-year associate’s degree also tends to earn more than a high school graduate. In the future, more and more jobs will require an education beyond high school. The following chart clearly depicts this reality during the past decade:
If you decide that going to college is important to you but have no idea how to begin the process, and if you have concerns about how to pay for it, this book was written for you. We will take you through the decision making and application processes and give you an idea of some of the financing possibilities available. For the first time in this edition, we highlight a fold-out college planning guide to keep you on track during the entire process. Look for the ACTION icon throughout the book to signal an action item on the college planning guide. Finally, we will focus on a wonderful option you may not be aware of or may not have considered. That option is to join the Army National Guard and let them help pay for your college education.