Not everyone who attends a community college goes on to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.  Men who earn community college certificates in high-paying fields — such as information technology, aviation, electronics and drafting — and who work in the same occupational field in which they studied can earn more than the median male bachelor’s degree-holder. It should be noted that the same does not hold true for women, who typically require more education than a community college certificate to get traction in the labor market.

Want more information on the earning power of professional certificates for male and female students? Check out Certificates: Gateway to Employment and College Degrees from the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce.