1 High School Diploma-High school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million in lifetime income. 2  Bachelors degree-Those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million over a lifetime: 3  High School to Bachelors-That average value of a 4-year degree is increased earnings income of $900,000, almost a million dollars. Bachelors degree-Those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million over a lifetime: 2  High School to Bachelors-That average value of a 4-year degree is increased earnings income of $900,000, almost a million dollars.