There is more to it than just salaries. A advanced education does not have to be prohibitively expensive. There are plenty of community colleges and very, very good tech schools that get a person where they need to be. It is my guess that degrees from pedigree schools will initially get you more out of the gate......5 years down the road nobody cares what the degree says as much as it is you have one. Same with grade point...it's worthless after you are out. As for Masters and PHD's....perhaps not worth all that much except to a few. There are plenty of nurses out there with Master's degrees. They still wipe butts. The greater yeild is self esteem and where it puts you in society and where you will end up in retirement. Not getting a higher education puts you in the trailer park where you will likely retire. A education can put you in a house in middle class America and a good retirement.