This booklet, which is addressed to middle school and high school students, explains the financial rewards of education beyond high school and ways students can improve their chances of getting into college and finishing a degree. The booklet begins with a brief overview of available postsecondary institutions and degrees and the time typically required to complete each one. The average incomes of high school dropouts, high school graduates, individuals who have earned associate degrees, individuals who have earned bachelor degrees, and individuals with various postgraduate degrees are compared and considered from the standpoint of the types of lifestyles that can generally be supported by the various income levels. The types of courses that improve students' chances of getting into college and finishing a degree are discussed. Alternatives to a four-year college are listed along with the 1999 median annual wages for 14 careers that can be pursued with a two-year associate's degree or postsecondary technical training. The real monetary trade-offs involved in going to college versus going directly to work are explained. Factors such as lost wages, loan debt, the higher wages associated with postsecondary degrees, and the relatively higher growth rates characterizing jobs requiring higher education are considered. (MN)