When it comes to getting a BA or more the preeminent story these days is that you are struggling. Either unable to find a job because AI is taking the place of those with a college degree or if you find a job you are working at low wages in a low skill job.
Think again! Turns out recent college graduates––most particularly those with a BA or more––are doing as well economically as ever. The Current Population Survey 2025 Annual Social and Economic Supplement asked participants to report their personal income for 2024. The data provides self reported earnings from all work by age and education attainment. For this post we will focus on the work earnings of those between the ages of 25 and 34.
Let’s start with how many are working. In 2024 89.8 percent of 25-34 year olds with a BA or more worked. That compares to 88.2 percent of those with an associates degree, 78.5 percent for those with some college, no degree and 81.2 percent for those with a high school degree.
Now let’s look at how much money 25-34 year olds earned from all work in 2024 by education attainment:
- BA or more: median earnings of $70,770; average earnings of $86,550
- Associates: median earnings of $47,150; average earnings of $54,090
- Some college, no degree: median earnings of $41,560; average earnings of $47,290
- High school degree: median earnings of $40,270, average earnings of 46,940
So much for you would better off not getting a BA. The BA wage premium for recent graduates is huge. The median wage premium for a BA compared to an associates degree is more than $23,000; the average wage premium is more than $32,000. The median wage premium for a BA compared to a high school degree is more than $30,000; the average wage premium is nearly $40,000.
The reason the average wage premium is greater than the media wage premium is that those with a BA or more have a much higher concentration of those earning a lot above the median. The public conversation is filled with claims about students leaving a high school CTE program or a non-degree credential program and earning a $100,000 or more. The reality is 25-34 year olds earning $100,000 a year or more is dominated by those with a BA or more.
There are 6,279,000 25-34 year olds with work earnings of $100,000 or more in 2024. That is 16 percent of all 25-34 year old workers. Of those who earn $100,000 or more 79. 7 percent have a BA or more. Here are the details:
- 5,003,000 25-34 year olds with a BA or more earn at least $100,000. 25.6 percent of all workers
- 330,000 25-34 year olds with an Associates degree earn at least $100,000. 7.2 percent of all workers
- 302,000 25-34 year olds with some college, no degree earn at least $100,000. 4.6 percent of all workers
- 562,000 25-34 year olds with a high school degree earn at least $100,000. 4.5 percent of all workers
The data are clear: In today’s supposedly AI driven economy the most reliable path by far for young adult workers to find a good-paying job and to earn six figures is getting a BA. Just like it was pre AI.
