A high school diploma means…you guessed it…that you graduated from high school. Exams, projects, papers – you did ‘em all and your teachers liked you enough to pass you.

You can get one for free, if you go to a public school, and be done with it by the time you are old enough to vote.

While a diploma is better than no diploma, today’s world of work is going to seem a lot more friendly if you have some more education or training under your belt. High school grads face pretty high unemployment and underemployment rates, and odds are any job you may land is going to pay significantly less than if you had higher education.

Keep in mind that education after high school doesn’t always mean a Four-Year Degree (although it certainly can). There are loads of other options, such as Community College, Technical Schools, and Vocational Training. Heck, even Internships and Apprenticeships can count as education. The important point to keep in mind when determining which educational path is right for you is the cost (in terms of money and time) versus the benefits. Oh, and make sure your education will get you into the career you want.

Opportunities. That’s the key word when talking pros of post-secondary education. Just a few numbers that will go up significantly with more education include average salary, chance of being employed, and amount of benefits provided. If that’s not enough, one number that will go down is the chance you will end up in jail.

With cons, we are pretty much talking investment: time and money. Education beyond high school is going to take both, but if you crunch the numbers, it is probably worth it.