SCHINNEN, Netherlands - Want to become a multi-millionaire' Get an advanced college degree! It's one of the surest ways to earn more income, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report, and recent graduates at USAG Schinnen are taking the advice to heart.
Schinnen's Education Center recognized 14 newly minted master's graduates, 22 bachelor degree graduates, and six associate degree recipients during a ceremony, May 21, honoring their academic achievements.
Census Bureau statistics show that employees with a master's degree earn an average of $2.5 million over the course of their working life, defined as ages 25 to 64, according to the report. Those with a bachelor's degree earn an average of $2.1 million over their working life, compared to those with only a high school diploma who earn just over one million.
"At most ages, more education equates with higher earnings, and the payoff is most notable at the highest educational levels," said Jennifer Cheeseman Day, co-author of the report. Byron Johnston, USAG Schinnen's Education Center Director, thinks that's reason enough to pursue higher education. A master's degree sends a signal to an employer, Johnston said.
"A company or the government - i.e. the employer - sees a more capable employee who can handle a diverse problem set and move up in managerial responsibility," he explained. Besides promotions, an advanced degree often substitutes for years of experience, which may qualify employees for jobs outside their current career fields. Most government positions, for example, have detailed job descriptions that specify a required minimum level of education and/or experience to qualify for the job, but higher education degrees may be accepted in lieu of experience.
Kathy Foley, USAG Schinnen's Workforce Development Program Specialist, thinks this is one of the main reasons to pursue higher education. "It's sometimes the only way you stand a fighting chance against others with many more years of experience," she said.
Foley practices what she preaches. Last month, she graduated from Bowie State with a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. It took her five years to complete the program, taking most classes online and travelling to occasional classes in Landstuhl and Heidelberg, Germany.
Johnston and Foley point to various master's programs, like Bowie State's that are specifically designed for military and government employees in Europe. Almost every stateside college or university now has a distance-learning program accessible to those living in Europe. Many institutions even offer a hybrid arrangement, meaning some classes are taught online and others are taught in person at military education centers around Europe.
The Army was an early pioneer in the field of distance education, recognizing that training delivered through online communications offered endless potential for soldiers in remote or austere environments. In 2001, the Army launched the largest distance learning program ever established by the U.S. government, which evolved into the popular GoArmyEd site used extensively throughout the Army today.
"It created a level of accessibility that was unheard of a decade ago, which has raised expectations for higher education across the board," Johnston explained. "Classes designed to support soldiers - meaning flexible schedules, distance learning, online access, etc. - these benefits dovetail nicely with what many military family members and the community at large also want and need in a higher education program."
"There's really no excuse anymore for not getting your master's if it's something you want," Foley said. USAG Schinnen's Education Center houses four educational institutions that offer advanced degrees in a variety of subjects. The center also arranges distance learning degrees with a multitude of additional institutions. "It's just a matter of charting your own course," Foley concluded.
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