The wisdom of individuals investing in their own higher education is illustrated by recent figures from the Federal Reserve. Still, higher education clearly pays for most who invest in it. That may change. Measuring a Profession's Value To measure the dollar value of any professional educational investment, start by considering the profession's average annual salary.
Salaries can vary by state.
The school you are considering or your employer may have such statistics. If not, refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whereas the price of your professional education will be a one-time cost, the incremental annual benefit repeats each year you work in the profession. The incremental benefit therefore indicates the long-term value of the professional training you undertake. Let's calculate an example.