A college degree pays for itself. The average bachelor’s degree holder earns 88% more than high school graduates. That’s an extra $37,500 in one year alone – enough to pay for three semesters of current expenses at an in-state public college. Doctors, lawyers and others with professional degrees typically earn almost twice as much as bachelor’s degree recipients and nearly four times more than high school graduates. Key takeaway: The financial benefits of graduating from college are much higher than the cost of attending.