The labor market study that said a GED pays off more than most bachelor's degrees

I was killing time between deliveries last Tuesday and read this Georgetown study about lifetime earnings by credential. It said the median GED holder earns about $35,000 a year, which is more than what a lot of bachelor's degrees in areas like photography or theater pull in around Phoenix where I work. That honestly blew my mind because we hammer kids with the message that college is the only way up, but the data shows the real split is between people who finish something and people who don't, not the type of paper. On one side, a trades certificate in welding or HVAC crushes an English degree on payback time, and on the other side, a four-year degree still opens doors for management jobs that won't even look at a high school diploma. So which matters more for career success, the credential itself or the actual skills you learn? I'd love to hear from people who chose one path over the other and whether they regret it five years out.

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gavin_reed16d ago

Well, that study lines up with what I've seen in my own hiring over the years. I've passed on plenty of degree holders who couldn't show up on time or write a clear email, but I've hired guys with a two-year tech certificate who fixed problems on the spot. The credential gets your foot in the door, but the skills keep you in the room, and a lot of folks forget that part. If you're weighing the options, I'd say pick something you can practice and prove, not just something you can pass a test in.