Individuals with a college degree may start in the same compensation range, but grow exponentially over the course of their careers. Ten years after graduation, people with at least a four-year degree see compensation rise about $3,778 a year, versus $369 for non-graduates. The gap is even more massive after 20 years. Graduates earn $25,000 more than those without a four-year diploma. Here's TheLadders chart breaking it down: