College Board’s Education Pays 2026 Report Confirms: A Degree Still Pays Off

College remains a strong financial investment, and the latest data from College Board makes that case with the most recent numbers available. The Education Pays 2026 report (PDF File), shows that workers with a bachelor’s degree continue to significantly out-earn their peers with only a high school diploma and that the gap shows no signs of closing.In 2024, the median earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients age 25 and older working full time were $81,800, compared to $50,600 for high school graduates. That’s a $31,200 difference (62% more) every single year. After accounting for taxes, bachelor’s degree holders took home $22,200 more annually, a 56% premium in after-tax income.The report comes at a time when public confidence in higher education has declined. A 2025 Gallup survey found that the cost of college is one of the top reasons Americans feel less confident about the value of a degree. But the data tells a more nuanced story: one where the financial returns still hold up, even after factoring in tuition, student loan debt, and years of forgone earnings.