College Graduates Hold Four Times the Net Worth of High School Grads

A new study by the Federal Reserve reveals a significant wealth gap between households led by college graduates and those led by high school graduates. According to data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, households headed by a college graduate have a median net worth four times greater than those led by someone with only a high school diploma.

The survey found that in 2022, households without a high school diploma had a median net worth of $38,050, while high school graduates reached $107,000. Households with some college but no bachelor's degree had a median net worth of $137,040. The largest jump occurs for college graduates, whose median net worth stood at $464,400.

The wealth gap widens further when using average figures, with college-educated households averaging nearly $2 million in net worth compared to roughly $413,300 for high school graduates. However, averages can be skewed by a small number of very wealthy households, making the median a more reliable indicator of a typical household's finances.