Source: U.S. Census Bureau, as reported in “Education Pays 2004: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society,” College Entrance Examination Board, www.collegeboard.com.

An education can help you stay out of poverty. The chart below shows that the poverty rate for college graduates is about one-third the poverty rate for high-school graduates. Take a look!

Poverty Rates by Household Type and Education Level, 2001

Single Mothers with Children Under 18-Percentage in Poverty
Less than high school: 49 percent
High school diploma: 30 percent
Some college: 20 percent
Bachelor's degree or higher: 10 percent

Married-Couple Families with Children Under 18-Percentage in Poverty
Less than high school: 19 percent
High school diploma: 7 percent
Some college: 4 percent
Bachelor's degree or higher: 2 percent

All Families-Percentage in Poverty
Less than high school: 17 percent
High school diploma: 7 percent
Some college: 5 percent
Bachelor's degree or higher: 2 percent

Note: Families are defined as households with two or more related individuals.
Source: "Education Pays 2004: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society," College Entrance Examination Board, www.collegeboard.com, based on U.S. Census Bureau 2001, Table 8.