The two largest income boosts BYU Pathway students usually see is after they complete their

PathwayConnect Certificate and their first professional certificate and again after they earn their b
degree as the chart below demonstrates.
 

To better appreciate the financial benefits of earning a degree you need to study your local job m
and evaluate how much more you could earn if you had a degree. This exercise is worthwhile ev
already have a degree or if you are not taking PathwayConnect to eventually earn a bachelor’s d
from BYU-Idaho online. Iit will still help reinforce the value of earning a degree.

Click on the tab below called "Worksheet" and fill in the green cells only with numbers. After you
number, press the enter or return key. If you make a mistake, you can erase your numbers or re-
and re-open this spreadsheet.
 complete their
fter they earn their bachelor's

udy your local job market

se is worthwhile even if you
earn a bachelor’s degree
e.

numbers. After you type in a

our numbers or re-download
Calculate the Value of a Degree
Fill in the green cells with your information.

Current age 33
Age I expect to retire 60
Total years I plan to work 27
Current monthly wages 0
Future monthly wages 10000
Years until I start future job 34

Additional amount
Amount at current earned at new job
rate over next 27 with degree until
years retirement
271000 -840000

years Current Salary Future Salary

Current Salary versus Future Salary
1
2
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
30 3 0.00 0.00
4 0.00 0.00
25 5 0.00 0.00
6 0.00 0.00
7 0.00 0.00
20 8 0.00 0.00
9 0.00 0.00
15 10 0.00 0.00
11 0.00 0.00
12 0.00 0.00
10
13 0.00 0.00
14 0.00 0.00
5 15 0.00 0.00
16 0.00 0.00
0 17 0.00 0.00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 251828 31 34 37 0.0040 43 46 49 520.00 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76

years Current Salary Future Salary

0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76
19 0.00 0.00
20 0.00 0.00
years
21 Current Salary
0.00 Future
0.00 Salary
22 0.00 0.00
23 0.00 0.00
24 0.00 0.00
25 0.00 0.00
26 0.00 0.00
27 0.00 0.00
 Don't know what to enter for "Future Monthly Wages? Calcula
earn after you complete your bachelor’s degree. To help your
consider some of these suggestions:

Conduct a search for local jobs that require a bachelor’s degre

33 industry about career options, including what qualifications yo
compensation is.
60
27 Research average salary trends in your country. For example, in
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a bachelor’s degree holder
0 $66,872 per year, compared to high school graduates, who on
year. You can search for specific jobs and areas at Bureau of La
10000
You can also search for country or city specific information at A
34 other local job websites.

Don't know what to enter for "Years until I start future job?" En
you estimate that it will take you to complete your bachelor’s d
numbers. Do you see how the higher this number gets, the le
Total amount
earned over 27 TIP: Divide the number of credits that you have left to a bachel
years credits you plan to take each year. For example, if you took 12
-569000 semester at three semesters per year that would be 36 credits
PathwayConnect, you’d have about 105 credits left (assuming t
credit), so you’d graduate in about three years (105/36=2.92).
Total
Future Salary0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
67 70 73 76 79 82 85
49 52 55 58 61 64 0.00

Future Salary
49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85
0.00
0.00
Future Salary 0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
 "Future Monthly Wages? Calculate how much you expect to
bachelor’s degree. To help your research your options
stions:

s that require a bachelor’s degree. Talk with someone in your

s, including what qualifications you need and what the average

ds in your country. For example, in the United States, the

orted a bachelor’s degree holder earned approximately
o high school graduates, who on average earn $37,076 per
fic jobs and areas at Bureau of Labor website.
Helpful Links:
ry or city specific information at Average Salary Survey and
Bureau of Labor website
Average Salary Survey

"Years until I start future job?" Enter the number of years that
you to complete your bachelor’s degree. Try different
e higher this number gets, the less you earn?
dits that you have left to a bachelor’s degree by the number of
year. For example, if you took 12 credits (4–5 classes) per
per year that would be 36 credits per year. After
about 105 credits left (assuming that you don’t have transfer
bout three years (105/36=2.92).