More bang for your buck: Community college grads earn more

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When it comes to higher education, more may not always be better — at least when it comes to starting salaries for graduates.

State employment data that track the earnings of recent graduates show those who earned a career-focused associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate from a Florida community college are in many cases making more money than bachelor’s degree recipients at state universities.

The salary estimates were distributed as part of a larger informational packet during a state Board of Education meeting held in December.

What the numbers say: Bachelor’s degree recipients from the state’s 11 public universities earned an average starting salary of $36,552 in 2009.

Meanwhile, those who received associate in science degrees from Florida community colleges earned an average of $47,708 — a difference of $11,000 more per year.

Full Story: Study less, earn more — at least in the beginning