High School Diploma: An Investment In the Future

What are the benefits of a high school diploma? Consider these staggering facts.

• Education and higher earnings directly correlate. This means that on average high school graduates earn more than 10 times that of high school dropouts.
• Increased wealth allows high school graduates to save extra money for emergencies, such as medical situations, unemployment and financial insecurities.
• Home ownership increases with the amount of education someone has, and is more prominent among high school graduates.
• Due to increased economic status among high school graduates, communities benefit from great wealth, civic involvement, stability, voter participation, etc. Community public assistance programs are also greatly reduced in areas that have higher high school diploma rates.
• According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, the U.S. would have an additional $74 billion if all heads of U.S. households finish high school.
• High school graduates tend to have less debt and do not rely on living paycheck-to-paycheck, allowing for greater financial security.
• People who graduate high school tend to have higher credit ratings, meaning that they receive better loan rates and often most have some type of retirement plan or program where they make regular contributions.
• Families that have greater financial stability are able to spend more time with their children and dedicate more resources towards their children's long-term education – albeit it tutoring, college savings accounts, school activities, advanced academic programs, etc.
• High school graduates are more financially independent and able to start small businesses. This directly benefits the U.S. economy by promoting entrepreneurship.
• Typically, families with less financial stability are not able to support the economic advancement and educational opportunities for their families.
• More than 1.2 million students drop out of high school each year. If this number were reduced, the impact on the U.S. financial cycle would be significant.
• Most employers will not hire high school dropouts and prefer to make their entire workforce is comprised of graduates.
• A high school diploma opens a number of career options, otherwise not available to dropouts.
• Statistics also show that high school graduates have an approximately 40-percent less likelihood of being unemployed, compared to that of high school dropouts.
• High school graduates tend to contribute more to society, via education, college tuition, property taxes and payroll taxes.
• High school dropouts have a nearly 80-percent higher incarceration rate compared to high school graduates.