In 1970, 55 percent of the US population over age 25 had completed high school or some college and 11 percent had completed 4 or more years of college; by 1999, those figures had reached 83 percent and 25 percent, respectively. A comparison between 1982 and 1992 high school seniors found more completing some postsecondary credits (from 53 percent to 76 percent) and higher percentages completing degrees (from 27 percent completing an associate degree or higher to 29 percent completing a bachelors degree or higher). College offers a payoff in terms of lower unemployment and higher wages and the benefits increase with higher levels of education. An analysis of postsecondary technical certificates, academic and technical associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees shows that field of study, gender, related employment and program completion all have different effects on employment outcomes. However, many students enter but do not complete college, often because of inadequate academic preparation in high school. Analysts agree that some postsecondary training is essential for success in the workplace and that appropriate academic preparation for college is critical. For students lacking the academic foundations, a technical certificate or associate degree may be a wiser investment than attempting but failing to complete a bachelors degree. (CG)