Over the past few decades, the benefits of higher education have become more and more evident. Secondary education is also associated with improved overall health, longer life expectancy, and improved overall life satisfaction.

1. STRONGER
W H Y A N E D U C A T E D
S O C I E T Y I S
By Abigail Claire Tilton

2. “THE EDUCATED
DIFFER FROM THE
UNEDUCATED AS
MUCH AS THE
LIVING FROM THE
DEAD.”
C O M P A N Y . C O M
- A R I S T O T L E

3. Over the past few decades, the benefits
of higher education have become more
and more evident. Secondary education
is associated with improved overall
health, longer life expectancy, and
improved overall life satisfaction.
Education not only increases income
levels, but it also helps develop skills,
gain access to more networks, and
improve social status.
HIGHER
EDUCATION

4. STUDY RESULTS
People with no high school diploma had
the lowest median earnings ($23,452) and
the highest unemployment rate (14.1).
People with a diploma made about $10,000
more with an unemployment rate of 9.4
percent.
In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics released its Current
Population Survey revealing how
much education influences
earnings for workers.
People with an associate's degree, averaged
$39,936 with an employment rate of 6.8%.
Bachelor’s degree holders made about
$54,756 with an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
People with a masters earned about $65,676
with an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.
As the degrees went up, the salary
increased, and the unemployment rate
decreased, continuing up through a
professional and a doctoral degree.

5. WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN
FOR
SOCIETY?
A couple of things: higher rates of
civic engagement, higher
volunteering rates, and healthier
communities.
Research shows that obtaining a
college degree leads to more civic
engagement. This includes
attending town meetings and
rallies, signing petitions,
contacting government officials,
and voting.

6. 38%
of people with
bachelor’s degrees
reported
volunteering.
of people with
associate
degrees
reported
volunteering.
15%26%
T H E R E I S A L S O A S T R O N G C O R R E L A T I O N B E T W E E N E D U C A T I O N
A N D V O L U N T E E R I N G R A T E S . A C C O R D I N G T O A R E C E N T
C O L L E G E S T U D Y :
of people with a
high school
diplomas
reported
volunteering.
I N 2 0 1 4 A L O N E , T H E R E W E R E 7 . 9 B I L L I O N H O U R S O F
V O L U N T E E R I N G , W I T H H E L P E D M A N Y V I T A L C A U S E S A N D
O R G A N I Z A T I O N S - - A L O T O F W H I C H W O R K T O I M P R O V E O U R
C O M M U N I T I E S A N D P O L I T I C A L P O L I C I E S .

7. BENEFITS
College graduates support and promote
volunteering and other good causes within
their communities, and the same goes for
promoting healthy lifestyles.
These graduates are less likely to smoke
than their counterparts, as well as more
likely to maintain a regular exercise routine
and a healthy weight.
They then pass down these healthy habits to
their children, while also promoting these
lifestyle choices within their communities.

8. OTHERSOCIETALBENEFITSINCLUDEMORE
CRITICALTHINKERSANDPROBLEMSOLVERS,
MORECREATIVEATTRIBUTES,ANDMORE
INCOMETAXPAIDTOSUPPORTTHE
COMMUNITYANDCOUNTRY.
BYFULLYRECOGNIZINGTHEPOWEROF
EDUCATION,CITIZENSANDPOLICYMAKERS
CANBETTERADDRESSDIVERSESOCIETAL
CHALLENGESANDCHANGES.
C O M P A N Y . C O M

9. THANK YOU
B Y A B I G A I L C L A I R E T I L T O N