Money Degrees: Did you earn one?

A newly released report examines the average first-year earnings of graduates from two-year and four-year colleges in Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. 

The report, released by College Measures, shows how some short-term credentials -- certificate, occupational and associates programs -- can lead to higher first-year earnings than bachelor’s degrees. 

"The most surprising finding was how valuable those degrees were in the labor market," said Mark Schneider, president of College Measures.

Schneider's research reveals: 

In Texas, people with technical associate’s degrees earned on average over $11,000 more after graduation than did those with bachelor’s degrees.

In Colorado, graduates with associate degrees in applied sciences out-earned their bachelor's degree counterparts by more than $7,000. 

And in Virginia, the difference exceeded $2,000.

What sets these so called “money degrees” apart is they are designed to meet the immediate needs of the labor market, unlike some bachelor’s degrees (or for that matter many associates degrees) in fields like philosophy, English or art.  

Schneider's research was funded by the Lumina Foundation and part of a larger trend among states to cross reference education statistics and employment data. College measures is working in Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Florida to create an online database that helps students see what recent graduates of their dream schools are earning. 

Critics are quick to point out Schneider’s findings don’t consider the long-term value of a bachelor’s degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows on average bachelor’s degree holders earn more than two-year graduates.