High school is tough. If what some of the teachers have to say about it is true, college can prove even worse—so why try getting in? If you look hard enough though, you’ll find that a diploma is so much more than just a piece of paper.

College graduates make more money, period. Per year, a college graduate earns up to $30,000 more a year than a high school graduate– and certainly a lot more than a dropout! People who completed the freshman year of college experienced an increase in earnings of 11% in 2007, and the main reason why is because more and more jobs require college degrees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average amount of money a college graduate makes annually is, with a bachelor’s degree, $51,206. Compare that with a paltry $27,915 for high school graduates, and college really does pay.

During December 2007 and January 2010, jobs requiring college degrees increased by 187,000, whereas jobs requiring lesser degrees (such as a high school degree) fell by 5.6 million. 187,000 sounds like a small number in the face of over five million, but college graduation helps with employment as well! Versus 11% for high school dropouts, Bachelor’s Degree holders experienced an unemployment of only about 4%.

Keeping up with your studies can be tough, but keep working on it. A diploma may not seem worth the effort at the time, but a college education will pay for itself in the long run.