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Education and Individual Income:

• 43% of college-educated individuals earned over $50,000 in 1996, and 20% earned at least $75,000 (33% of these individuals earned less than $35,000);
   
• Meanwhile, 11% of individuals with no more than a high school education (or a GED) earned $50,000, and merely 3% earned over $75,000 (over 70% of these individuals earned less than $35,000);
   
• Completing some college work, or earning an associate degree both increase income progressively towards levels of college-educated individuals;
   
• However, the greatest payoff went to individuals that had earned a bachelor's degree.

(Source: USCB, Money Income in the US: 1996)