4 Reasons a College Degree Remains Relevant in the Age of AI and Certifications.

As a boomer, I was told the only option for personal, economic stability, was to graduate from college. The world is more complex today, as students and adult career-changers have a maze of options. Options include professional and industry certification, online classes in almost anything, and apprenticeship programs.

Despite rhetoric that suggests otherwise, statistics continue to show that traditional college and university programs offer economic value.

Our research found at least four reasons to push onward with education:

1. Your salary will probably be greater,
2. The chances of being unemployed will be smaller,
3. You will benefit even if you do not complete that degree, and
4. Degree-granting programs are not the only option.

Surprisingly, 21^st Century statistics continue to show that education pays. An August 2025 update posted on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Website (latest BLS data available) demonstrates that you are likely to earn more when you learn more, per the table below:

Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment, 2024
Educational attainment	Median usual weekly earnings ($)	Unemployment rate (%)
Doctoral degree	2,278	1.2
Professional degree	2,363	1.3
Master’s degree	1,840	2.2
Bachelor’s degree	1,543	2.5
Associate’s degree	1,099	2.8
Some colleges, no degree	1,020	3.8
High school diploma	930	4.2
Less than a high school diploma	738	6.2
Note: Data are for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers. Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The difference in earnings between high school graduates and those who completed college and graduate school is striking. Workers with master’s degrees earned nearly twice the median weekly wage of those with high school diplomas in 2024. And workers with professional degrees—doctors and lawyers, for example—had more than 2 ½ times the median earning power of a high school graduate.

Of course, most of us don’t have advanced degrees. Those with bachelor’s degrees earned nearly 166% of the median wages earned by workers with high school diplomas in 2024. Those with high school diplomas achieved a median income of $930 per week, while those with four-year college degrees earned a median income of $1543 per week. In other words, you do not need an advanced degree to reap the economic benefits of education.

Government statistics do not prove you will get the job you want at the salary you deserve. The data means that you are likely to earn more money with the best possible education. BLS says “individual experience may differ.”

Analytics professionals sometimes say, “data has a point of view,” so we did a quick check for political bias. We found that the statistics posted in 2025 are consistent with stats published in 2024, and even back in 2015.

Education reduces the risk of unemployment, too.

Unemployment is a costly experience. State and federal unemployment benefits won’t match your salary so it is important to minimize the likelihood you will become unemployed. According to BLS statistics, workers with high school diplomas had a 4.2% unemployment rate in 2024, while those with four-year college degrees had 2.5% unemployment. Workers with graduate and professional degrees had unemployment rates in 2024 of 2.2% or less.

It’s as important to earn a steady income as it is to earn a high income for many of us, so reducing our risk of unemployment is essential. Although unemployment rates for everyone with at least a high school diploma were 4.2% in 2024, rates have increased in general since then. 

You will benefit if you don’t complete the degree.

We know that “life happens” so some of us have not completed degrees. According to BLS, those workers with “some college, no degree” still earned 2024 median salaries of $1020 per week instead of earning $930 per week with only a high school diploma.

College and grad school programs are not the only option.

When I began career advising more than 25 years ago, I told clients that their most important education was a college degree. Anything else seemed to have little credibility with employers.

Recruiters have told me that a college degree is not the only credential that matters anymore. This is true for at least two reasons. First, industry certifications have increased in importance. Short-term courses also show you have gained skills and can add valuable keywords and AI context cohesion to your LinkedIn profile and resume.

For example, one recruiter said he has received job orders specifying an industry certification as a requirement and a college degree as “preferred.”

 Promote your relevant industry credentials for additional impact. According to data prepared by Sam Wright for Hunter.com, certifications have increased the number of interviews his customers get, but only when their certifications are relevant. Too many certifications show a negative correlation with interview results.

No short-term certification or brief online class will have the same career impact as a college degree, in my view. A class lasting just a few hours cannot possibly impart the level of knowledge one gains from a degree program. A few weeks ago, for example, I added a digital badge for a six-hour course related to AI in career services. It certainly did not impart the level of expertise I would gain from a college degree in AI technology although it could increase visibility for my LinkedIn profile.

Apprenticeship programs are another option.

There is another option that could be more meaningful than short online courses, while avoiding the expense of a four-year degree in some industries. Apprenticeship programs where employees learn while in a salaried job have existed for years in skilled manufacturing and construction trades. Now, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, apprenticeships exist in high-demand fields such as IT and healthcare. More than 90% of apprentices remain in their jobs after completing their training and earn median salaries of about $60,000. Investigate this option for your occupation and industry if a college degree is not the right path for you.

Concluding comments

The job market is more competitive than ever in the AI era, so you need to differentiate yourself from others applying for the job you want. Statistics show that formal degrees are one way to earn more money and reduce your risk of unemployment, while gaining an edge on the competition.