With the current university graduation rate hovering at 63%, many students may be wondering if a college degree is the key to lasting financial success. After all, did the top CEOs in the country obtain their positions through their degrees, or through perseverance or even luck?

Let’s take a look at the top ten CEOs in the United States. How high did their educations go?

1.  Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has a net worth of $45 billion and commands a minimal annual salary of $100,000. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and his Master’s degree in Economics from Columbia Business College.

2. Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, has a net worth of $13.1 billion. His annual salary is $1,267,670. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics, and later dropped out of Stanford University Graduate School of Business to join Microsoft.

3. With an estimated worth of $12.6 billion, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos only commands an annual salary of $81,840. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

4. If you’ve ever Googled someone, you might want to thank Google CEO Eric Schmidt for it. His personal worth is valued at $5.45 billion and his annual salary is in the form of an honorarium at one dollar. He graduated from Princeton with his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering then earned his Masters and his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Schmidt has the distinction of being the only CEO in the top ten with a PhD.

5. Charles Schwab, the CEO of Charles Schwab brokerage and banking firm, has a net worth of $47 billion with an annual salary is $500,000. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stanford University and later earned his MBA from there as well.

6. CEO of his eponymous firm, Donald Trump has a net worth of $2 billion with an annual salary is around $50,000,000. His alma mater is the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics, after transferring from Fordham University his second year.

7. The last of the top ten CEOs to have a college degree is Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks. Schultz has a net worth of $1.1 billion and commands an annual baseline salary of $10,000. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Northern Michigan University.

But not all of the top ten CEOs have a college degree. In fact, there are three notable college dropouts rounding out the top ten. They include:

8. Michael Dell, who was a Pre-med student at the University of Texas before he dropped out to follow his hunch that there were greater profits to be made in selling computers directly to the public. His net worth is $14 billion, and his annual salary is $950,000.

9. Mark Zuckerberg, subject of the recent film The Social Network and CEO of Facebook, has a net worth of $6.9 billion. His annual salary is an honorarium of one dollar. He dropped out of Harvard in 2004 when Facebook took off.

10. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc. has a net worth of $6.1 billion, and his salary is an honorarium of one dollar. He attended one semester at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and later audited courses even after dropping out.

So of the top ten CEOs, the majority have at least a Bachelor’s degree, although a notable few never even obtained that. A few have a Master’s degree, and only one has his PhD. An education may not be a prerequisite to becoming a billionaire CEO, but it seems that having an innovative mindset and a way of bringing the people what they want plays a powerful role in each one’s success.

Could that student in your Psych 101 class be the next President of the United States? It may depend on which college you’re attending. Some universities boast a disproportionately higher amount of presidential alumni than others.

The Ivy League is well represented, as you might expect, with the following statistics:

Harvard University—John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy
Yale University—George HW Bush, George W. Bush, and William Howard Taft
Princeton University—Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy (though JFK graduated from Harvard)
Columbia University—Barack Obama
University of Pennsylvania—William Henry Harrison (withdrew)

So which non-Ivy League school can boast the most presidential grads? Though not part of the Ivy League, the College of William and Mary is a colonial university, and can boast three presidents among its alumni: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler.

Several other private colleges can boast presidential graduates, such as:

Whittier College—Richard M. Nixon
Stanford University—Herbert Hoover
Eureka College—Ronald Reagan
Kenyon College—Rutherford B. Hayes
Bowdoin College—Franklin Pierce
Allegheny College—William McKinley
Williams College—James Garfield
Georgetown University—William Clinton
Union College—Chester A. Arthur
Dickinson College—James Buchanan
Ohio Central College—Warren G. Harding

As might be expected from the Commander-in-Chief, military institutions can also boast a high number of presidential grads:

United States Naval Academy—Jimmy Carter
United States Military Academy—Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower

So while private and military institutions can boast presidents, what about state universities? Were there ever any presidents who went to state college?

Lyndon Johnson–Texas State University at San Marcos
Harry S. Truman–University of Missouri, Kansas City (attended but dropped out)
Gerald Ford—University of Michigan
James K. Polk—University of North Carolina

Among presidents who attended college, what were the top 4 areas of study?

7 presidents studied law;
2 studied business;
1 studied medicine; and
1 achieved his doctorate.

So while many prestigious schools can boast distinguished alumni, were there ever any presidents who did not attend college? Click the graphic to find out!

So the concept of presidential destiny? Does the school you attend guarantee your shot at the Oval Office? Even though the Ivy League can boast many presidents, the truth is that many presidents never even attended college. It looks as though modern presidents come not only from the Ivy League, but also from private colleges, the military, and state universities. So it may be that the college you choose has less to do with your shot at the presidency, with other factors playing a much larger role.

Throughout history, psychologists, sociologists, and other experts have been trying to find the answer to one simple question: what makes a normal person become a serial killer? Over time, many theories have been expounded upon: serial killers are born, not made; serial killers are made, not born; serial killers are left-handed; or serial killers simply evil by nature? Perhaps one of the most provocative questions regarding the social background of serial killers has to do with education. Are serial killers generally the result of a poor educational background? Or are the majority of serial killers well-educated?

Is Education to Blame for Society’s Monsters?

While history has had its share of uneducated serial killers – Henry Lee Lucas comes to mind – it has also seen its share of highly educated murderers. Some of these killers even used their knowledge as a way to lure unsuspecting victims. While the question of education doesn’t really answer the whole question of what creates a monster, environment or nature, it does add an interesting piece to the puzzle.

The Top 8 Well-educated Killers

So, which serial killers in history have the most education? Following are the top 8 of all time:

• Herman Webster Mudgett, MD (1861-1896)

Also known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, Mudgett was educated at the University of Michigan Medical School, graduating in 1884. Mudgett built a hotel for the Chicago Exposition of 1893, which later became known as “The Murder Castle.” His confirmed number of victims was 27.

• Ted Kaczynski, (1944-present)

Also known as the Unabomber, Kaczynski was a child prodigy who entered Harvard University at the age of 16. He became an assistant professor at Berkeley at the age of 25. His 20-year mail bombing spree killed three people and injured twenty-three others.

• Ted Bundy (1946-1989)

Ted Bundy graduated from the University of Washington in 1972, with a degree in psychology. He attended graduate school at Puget Sound and dropped out of law school at the University of Utah. He confessed to killing thirty women, though estimates put his victims at 400.

• MaryBeth Tinning (1942-present)

Tinning did not receive a formal education past high school, but used the on-the-job-training she received as a nurse’s aide to kill her children and pass off their deaths as different medical syndromes. She confessed to one murder, but is suspected of eight.

• Harold Frederick Shipman, MD (1946-2004)

Harold Shipman, known as “Fred,” received his doctorate in medicine from Leeds School of Medicine in 1970. One of the most prolific killers in recent history, he was convicted of 15 murders, although 218 have been ascribed to him.

• Randy Steven Kraft (1945-present)

Kraft received his BA in Economics from Claremont McKenna College in 1968. He was convicted of sixteen murders, but is suspected in fifty-one more.

• Rodney Alcala (1943-present)

Also known as the “Dating Game Killer” for his appearance on the popular television show in the midst of his killing spree, Alcala received his BA in Fine Arts from UCLA. He is convicted of five murders, but a recent discovery of a photo album belonging to Alcala with pictures of young women may indicate he had many more victims.

• Andrei Romanovych Chykatlyo

Also known as the Rostov Ripper, Chykatlyo received his degree in Russian Literature from Rostov University in 1970. He was convicted of murdering fifty-three women and children, but is suspected of many more.

So what do you think?  Is education to blame or not?  For a deeper look into the matter, check out the graphic and see if you can make an educated opinion on the matter.

1.  Blog Plagiarism Q&A – Daily Blog Tips –

2.  What to do When Someone Steals Your Blog’s Content – Blog Plagiarism by Probbloger.net – Darren Rowse is a blogger that makes a full time income from his expertise blogging.  He teaches others how to make the best out of their blogs, and how to make money while doing it.  He is also the cofounder of b5Media.com.

3.  The Plagiarism Blog – Susan Herzog keeps you current on all things regarding academic plagiarism with her plagiarism blog.  Susan is an Information Literacy Librarian with Eastern Connecticut State University.

4. Sure-Fire Blog Writing Tips Without Plagiarism by Smart Bloggerz – This blogger offers great tips to ensure that you do not unintentionally duplicate content.  Creating your own unique content to drive visitors to your content is made simple with the aid of this blog.

5.  Bring out the Copycats by DT’s Flash Drive Blog – Personal experience of one blogger who had content stolen.  This blog shines light onto what it is like to get content stolen, how it affects Google ratings, and the fight to get the copied content down.

6.  The Opinion Pages by NYTimes– Stanley Fish is the author of 13 successful books, and also a law professor at Florida International University.  Professor Fish discusses the moral and ethical issues of plagiarism, and reviews current issues regarding plagiarism.

7.  Someone Stole Your Content? by Don’t Waste Your Time – A blog with an odd name, but very resourceful.  Questions and answers on everything regarding plagiarism.  This blog also offers the proper way to cite sources when portions are quoted.

8.  How Do You Feel When Someone Copies and Pastes Your Post? by The Edublogger – Nominated for several 2009 Edublogs Awards, Sue Waters covers the important issues that pertain to plagiarism.  She offers to answer any questions that readers may have through her personal blog, and also suggest that her readers send suggestions to topics they would like covered.

9.  Blogging Angels – Offers weekly Golden Halos to noteworthy articles.  Also provides contact information to fellow writers that have had their worked copied.  Helpful information about preventing plagiarism and what to do if content is stolen.

10.  Plagiarism & Stealing Blogs – What To Do – Stop It Now by Photoframd – What to do in order to stop blogs from being plagiarized and stolen.  An excellent resource to ensure proper copyrights and patents are done correctly to prevent plagiarism.  Also provides information on what to do if your copyrighted work is stolen.

11.  Educated Nation – Learn how plagiarism is not always a bad thing.  Some of the greatest art paintings have been the result of some form of plagiarism.  A new look at how some type of copying and borrowing inspire artist to create their best work.

12.  The Salt Mine – Mark Power is the author of several books, and is a photographer and writer.  Mr. Power debates the most controversial acts of plagiarism, and what defines plagiarism.

13.  Dear Author – A very shocking account of the stress that is put on authors who have their work plagiarized.  Learn the issues and the progress that has come to light in the world of plagiarism, and what can be done to bring more attention to the topic.

14. Technically Personal – Designed specifically for fighting plagiarism on WordPress.  WordPress is one of the largest blogger formats used, which means bloggers are susceptible to their work being copied.  Learn tips to prevent this from happening.

15.  iThenticate – A controversial blog that covers different view points of plagiarism.  Everything from the chain of events that lead to plagiarism and the controversy over if an author really owns their own words.

16. English Club – The best ways to avoid plagiarism, and the most common unintentional plagiarism that is done.  Learn why people who are trying to learn English plagiarize, and how international plagiarizing affects everyone.

17.  The JF Blogit – One author’s account of when plagiarism is not flattering.  Read how this author confronts a blatant plagiarizer, and his fight to keep his content from being stolen again.

18.  Lauren’s Library Blog – A tutorial on plagiarism.  This blog provides resources and tutorials on just about everything to do with plagiarism.  This is a great resource and wealth of information for anyone who wants to learn about plagiarism.

19.  College and University Blog – Rules, tips, and tricks for those who are concerned about academic plagiarism.  Learn the proper way to write academic papers, cite sources, and stay clear of getting in trouble for turning in plagiarized academic papers.

20.  Lostpedia Blog – Informative blog about video plagiarizing, and how it affects more than one website when content is stolen.  Join the debate about whether people care too much about their own work, or if they are rightly concerned.

21.  Publish 2 – Tammi Marcoullier describes her personal experience of having her content stolen by a local competing newspaper.  This is a great perspective on the world of plagiarism in the journalist field.

22.  Blog World – Learn how to protect your blog from being plagiarized, and how stolen content does not only affect your blog.  The author offers four valuable tips to prevent your content from being stolen.

23.  Plagiarism Today – A blog from a frustrated webmaster, who is trying to stop the amount of plagiarism on the internet.  From the most notorious cases of plagiarism to what should be done if you realize work has been stolen, this blog offers solutions for anyone who is a victim of plagiarism.

24.  Lorelle – Probably one of the most informative step by step blogs regarding what to do if someone steals your content.  Examples of cease and desist letters, tips to confront the thief, and tips to prevent your work from being stolen.

25.  Scott’s Web Log – Scott Strumello discusses his content being stolen, and details his journey to get his stolen content taken down.  He also shines light on the latest plagiarism that is becoming rampant, stealing Diabetic articles.

26.  Plagiarism Analyzer – This blog offers a wide variety of information regarding the responsibility of blog owners to thoroughly check the content they are posting before it goes live.  There are also definitions of copyright terms and the conditions that go with them.

27.  Marketing Worlds Copyright Blog – Written by SEO expert Jill Whalen, this blog discusses all things pertaining to copyrighting, and how it affects the SEO world.  Learn how plagiarism is different with SEO, than other forms of writing.

28.  Blogging without a Blog – Learn the proper way to create internal links to prevent plagiarizing.  Barbara Swofford goes into detail about creating links for WordPress blogs.

29.  Slade / Blogging – Slade Roberson is a professional blogger, and the author of several publications.  He reviews his experience with his content being stolen, and how he handled it.  He also provides several tips on what you should know before posting on a blog.

30.  Revellian – Bobby Revell discussing indirect plagiarism and how most ideas begin with indirect plagiarism.  This is a great blog for those who write for niche blogs.

31.  Arctic Llama – The blatant truth about plagiarism in the freelance writing world.  The author offers steps to help avoid plagiarism on websites.

32.  Boap – Plagiarism blog focusing on the aspects of academic plagiarism.  This blog also discusses different high profile cases about plagiarism.

33. Make Use Of – Easy and simple steps to help you write original content every time.  This is a great blog for those who are in freelance writing, or blog owners.

34.  Get Found Now – This blog is geared toward SEO writers.  Learn how duplicate content affects SEO and how article marketing is also affected.

35.  Lifehacker – This blog is gives a good basic description of what plagiarism is.  Also discusses whether plagiarism is always bad.

36. Boxing the Octopus – A blog geared toward up and coming writers.  Discussion about the nature of ownership on the web.

37. The Writer and the White Cat – This blog is created by Rick Moore and is intended for book reviews, writers and all things written.  Contains information about bloggers against plagiary.

38. ESL Technology – A great blog primarily directed toward teaching English as a second language. The blog contains information on plagiarism easy with new technologies.

39. Ideas – This is a blog that covers multiple topics relating to writing.  There is a particular piece regarding reverse plagiarism.

40. Research Copyright – A blog resource for writers that discusses copyrights and related items. Great information and free resources

41. Every Day is a Miracle – Contains a variety of information on environmental issues. Also contains discussion about the internet being public domain.

42.  The D Spot – A blog filled with information about life and living which contains a piece regarding online plagiarism checkers.

43. Carlos Sanastacio – This blog has great information on whether or not bloggers content is unique or plagiarism.

44.  Blog Pond – Contains information about blogging including details about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

45. Plagiarism Blog – A blog relaying specific plagiarism examples online.  Shows how plagiarism occurs on the internet.

46. Copy Shake Paste – Offers information about plagiarism from a German professor’s perspective.  Also contains samples of plagiarism.

47.  Digital Inspiration – A blog written by a national newspaper blogger containing a story regarding plagiarism in About.com.  Also offers a free plagiarism checker.

48. A Blog About Copyright – This blog offers information about blogging, copywriting and plagiarism.  Also has a few anecdotal cartoons regarding plagiarism.

49. DollarShower – This is a blog directed toward SEO and other money making aspects of online marketing and writing.  Also contains a piece on blog plagiarism on technical niches.

50. IPBIZ – An informative blog on intellectual property written by a patent attorney.  The blog also contains discussion on blog plagiarism.

51. Diabetesaliciousness – This is a blog about diabetes and life with diabetes.  Current posts discuss diabetes blog plagiarism online.

52. The Diabetic’s Corner Booth – A blog filled with daily back and forth on life written by a diabetic.  Also contains information on online plagiarism.

53. Todd McDermid’s Blog – This blog is directed toward technical support and data warehousing. This contains a post regarding a specific plagiarism instance.

54. Elizabeth Pyatt’s TLT Blog – A blog containing information for teaching and learning with technology.  This blog also contains a post regarding the basics of internet plagiarism.

55.  Plaigiarism & Copyright – This blog is intended for k-12 educators regarding plagiarism and copyright basics.  It also contains multiple videos and presentations on the topic.

56. Blogadda – An Indian blogging site that contains information on how to handle plagiarism.  This blog gives basics of what to do if you discover you have been the victim of plagiarism.

57. Shout Me Loud – This blog is geared toward the topics of blogging, social media, SEO, etc. There is information on how to handle plagiarism.

58. Lisa’s Kitchen – Intended to be a blog about cooking and techniques as well as recipes, this blog offers a personal experience of plagiarism.  This plagiarism was at the expense of the author of the site.

59. Online Tech Tips – In this blog an IT tech offers tips and tricks for technical support on the computer.  Within this blog is a list of anti-plagiarism plugins.

60. Orange Crate Art – A blog that provides a variety of information on numerous topics.  This blog contains information on how to spot plagiarism.

61. Nature Network Blog – This blog by Brian Derby talks about information relating to science and nature.  The blog contains a post regarding scientific plagiarism.

62. My Favourite Books – Blogging about the greatness that books bring to life is combined with book talk on this blog.  It also includes information about plagiarism.

63. Reconciliation Ecology – The blog contains posts regarding ecology and the effects on nature by technology.  There is a post regarding plagiarism and protecting the integrity of science.

64. Muffin.Wow – This blog is targeted toward women writers and offers inspiration and tools to further their writing careers.  This also contains information on plagiarism.

65. ArtBizBlog – On this blog information for the business of being an artist is available.  There is also information on where the line is between influence and plagiarism.

66. Babel at Bedlam – This blog is focused on photo journalism and events that touch the art.  This also includes a piece on a particular bit of plagiarism by a professor.

67. Plagium – The blog offers insight into plagiarism issues that affect all types of art forms from writing to photography.

68. The Salt Mine – This blog offers conversation and posts on topics relating to are and fine art in the area of photography.  There is also information on how plagiarism affects the art world.

69. Blog PI – The blog offers various investigations and research into a number of topics including internet uses in politic and government.  In addition, the blog offers information on defining plagiarism.

70. John Flood’s Random Academic Thoughts – This is a blog written by a legal academic who is giving his various thoughts on topics.  Included in his thoughts is a bit of information about plagiarism.

71. Mrs. Trefz 5th Grade Blog – The blog is an elementary school teacher’s blog with various topics available for information.  Among the topics is information about what plagiarism is.

72. No Rules Just Write – This blog is written by a novelist and has inspirational information about life and writing.  She also offers information on the legal ramifications of plagiarism.

73. Eagle Dawg Blog – Offering information on health informatics and medical librarianship, this blog stays mostly on point with the medical and health care related writing.  There is information on clinical plagiarism.

74.  Balancing Life – This blog is directed to those with an interest in science, development, education and society.  The blog offers information on ethics and plagiarism.

75. T.Scott Blog – The blog is basically a compilation of one man’s information and knowledge on a variety of subjects. There is a post regarding plagiarism, what it is and a personal experience.

76. Preeoccupied – This blog is owned and updated by a writer who talks about everything from writing to music and back over to food.  The blog offers insight into plagiarism.

78. Anne T. – V’s Blog – This blog is targeted to CE educators in the health care arena.  She offers a bit of information on Plagiarism and punishment.

79. Law Blog – A blog about the legal issues surrounding a variety of topics.  The blog talks about whether anti-plagiarism violates student copyrights.

80. First Things – Religious based blog with discussions about life and related issues. The blog post discusses plagiarism and art.

81. Chance and Necessity – One teacher’s perspective on a variety of topics including plagiarism. The blog tells a story of a case of plagiarism.

82. Funny Quotes – Filled with interesting and funny quotes for all topics. The blog provides a selection of quotes regarding plagiarism.

83. Adventures in Ethics and Science – This blog is host to posts regarding various issues relating to ethics and science questions.  The blog includes a post on plagiarism
and why it is an issue.

84. Ayende Rahien’s Blog – The blog is directed to ward the world of technology and source code. The blog also contains a post regarding whether plagiarism is the best compliment or not.

85. Christine Mytko’s Blog – This is a blog belonging to a teacher of science and technology.  The blog includes the question posed of what qualifies as plagiarism.

86. Adam’s Drafting – A drafting blog this site offers information on a number of drafting related topics.  Additionally, the blog offers insight on how plagiarism relates to drafting.

87. Wordful – This is a blog that relates to writing and publishing and offers information on all topics related to the subject. There is an included post detailing how to handle plagiarism.

88. Homeschooling – The blog is directed to homeschooling parents and addresses the many issues that they face.  It also posts on valuable topics such as plagiarism and how to discuss the topic with children.

89. Hayrick’s Blog Explorations – A blog targeted to educational information containing topics important to students and faculty of varied age groups. The blog offers posts on plagiarism and its position in education.

90. Bernard Buachi’s Blog – This blog is made of multiple postings on current events of top entertainers.  The blog includes a post on a plagiarism lawsuit and Oprah Winfrey.

91. The Pequod Blog – Intended to act as a journal of sorts through a student’s school adventures this blog offers information on multiple subject. The blog points out three cases of plagiarism.

92.  Recent Reflection – A blog created by a teacher for and about teaching and education offers insight into many related topics. The blog offers a post regarding plagiarism and how it affects his blog.

93. English Blog – The blog is directed toward all things involving literature and writing.  There is a post contained in the blog regarding plagiarism and English teaching.

94. Business Marketing and Advertising Blog – This blog is run by an individual and lists all things involving advertising and marketing.  Additionally, they go over how to find and fight plagiarism.

95. Writers Blog – A network of writers and resources combined make create this blog. The blog offers an interesting piece of information about Shakespeare and new plagiarism protection technology.

96. Learn Online – Online education tools are the drive behind this blog.  In addition, the blog discusses how plagiarism affects the online way of doing business.

97. Youth Unite – The Youth of the internet band together on this blog to speak out for and against those things that they believe need to be addressed, plagiarism being not exception.  Bloggers against plagiarism offers a perspective on plagiarism online.

98. A. Kipta’s Blog – This blog centers on great tools for educational technology.  Provided on the blog is a plagiarism checker.

99. Earn Money Blog – A blog that teaches and networks individuals who want to blog for a living with tools and trick to help them along the way.  The blog provides an anti-plagiarism tool.

100.  Musical Perceptions – Centered on all things relating to music, this blog offers perspectives on multiple topics.  Music plagiarism is a topic that is more frequently talked about than it once was.

So you’d like to land a job as a nurse anesthetist. And why not? You put people to sleep before their surgeries and earn a nice salary while doing it, an average of $91,000 a year. It’s a nice gig.

You fire up your laptop and begin hunting for an online college where you can find this degree. You search the usual suspects: the University of Phoenix, Everest University Online, Ashford University and Post University. You don’t find a thing for nurse anesthetist.

This is frustrating. You’ve dreamt of attending an online college as a way to boost your income. You see it as a way to get ahead even in today’s dismal national economy. But it seems as if you won’t be able to land a high-paying anesthetist job without attending a real brick-and-mortar college.

A nurse anesthetist degree is just one of many that still aren’t offered online. With the huge boom in online universities and colleges – you can’t get through a 30-minute sitcom without an ad for the University of Phoenix popping up – you’d think that every degree imaginable was available at online colleges.

You’d be wrong. You still have to attend actual colleges for many degrees that lead to lucrative careers, (enlarge the infographic) to find out which ones.

Degrees that Require Real Classroom Time

Several top degrees require you to spend hours sitting in an actual classroom. That might sound depressing to you, especially if you’re a returning student. Such students usually lead especially hectic lives. They’re often juggling an existing career, marriage and children with their dreams of returning to school.

It can lead to long days and sleepless nights. But those returning students who want to land certain degrees will have to put up with the hassles of returning to an actual brick-and-mortar campus.

For instance, students who want to land a lucrative career in the computer engineering field, where average salaries are an impressive $86,000 a year, will have to attend real classes in the presence of real human beings.

Those students who want to land jobs in construction management – a nice average salary of $73,000 – won’t find their degrees online, either. The same for future massage therapists, who earn an average of $62,000 a year; the degrees that lead to this career can’t be found at the University of Phoenixes of the world.

Making the Big Decision

If you want to start a career in one of these more lucrative fields, you’ll have to make a big decision: Do you invest the upfront money and time in attending brick-and-mortar classes, or do you find a different career in which an online degree can lead more quickly, and cheaply, to a job?

It’s a trade-off, as difficult choices inevitably are. You’ll trade in the highest salaries for the chance to enter the working world in a shorter period of time.

If you do make the big jump to pursue a degree that you can’t nab at an online university, make sure that you have plenty of support, especially if you are married with children. You’ll need help from your spouse. You can’t work, take care of the kids full-time, and complete your classes. You’ll burn out, and you’ll do a poor job at all three of these important tasks.

Returning to brick-and-mortar study isn’t an impossible task. Students do it all the time. But it does require a more advanced commitment. If you’re not willing to make it, or if you won’t have enough support to get through the tough times, non-online degrees might not be the right choice for you.

Look around you – wherever you are – office, coffee shop… How many of the people over 25 years old have completed high school? College?

The answers will surprise you.

Check out the infographic and see how you rate against your fellow Americans… and how the US measures up against the rest of the world.

How about your state? Do you live amongst scholars or drop outs?!

Let the Battle of the Brains begin…

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

How smart is the United States? Yes, that’s a loaded question. But would you say that the United States is smarter than Canada, its neighbor to the north? How about Ireland or Italy?

Well, by at least one measure of education, and smarts, Canada beats the snot out of the United States: the average level of education of its residents.

Would you have guessed that in most states less than a third of the adult populations hold bachelor‘s degrees?(Check out the graphic) to see where your state stands in the ratings. Warning: if you‘re from Texas, you may not want to know.

Only 27.4 percent of U.S. residents 25 or older have earned at least a bachelor’s degree from a university or college. In Canada, that number is far higher: 42 percent.

The Lazy American?

Are U.S. residents simply too lazy to attend college? Maybe. But a better explanation might be the costs. It’s not cheap to earn a bachelor’s degree in college. Most studies say that the average graduate with a bachelor’s degree has rung up more than $20,000 in student loan debt to achieve it.

At the same time, many U.S. residents today are questioning whether a college education is a good investment. After all, the U.S. job market is dismal. Jobs are scarce. And many of the ones available won’t make anyone rich.

Why spend $20,000 or more to earn a degree when there are no guarantees that it will land a high-paying job after graduation?

Or maybe Canadians just care more about education.

Other Countries Even Worse

The United States might not be able to beat Canada when it comes to education levels. But its stats are much better than many others. For instance, in Austria, only 14 percent of adults 25 or older have earned bachelor’s degrees. In Italy, that number stands at just 10 percent.

But don’t look to Ireland for comfort. In that country, 36 percent – beating the United States – of adults 25 or older have earned their bachelor’s degrees.

Then there’s the issue of high school diplomas. How does the United States fare when it comes to these?

Again, it depends on which countries you look at.

In the United States, 84.5 percent of residents 25 and over have either high school diplomas or their equivalents. That’s almost dwarfed by Denmark, where 96 percent of these residents have nabbed their high school diplomas. In Japan, that number stands at a very impressive 93 percent.

Of course, the United States is outpacing some countries. In Sweden, only 71 percent of residents 25 or older have earned high school diplomas. In Iceland, that number stands at just 70 percent.

And if you wanted to, you could blame specific states for the United States’ rather low rate of high school diplomas.

For instance, Texas boasts the lowest rate of high school diplomas for residents 25 or older: 79.2 percent. Mississippi also has a high school diploma rate under 80 percent.

Can you guess, though, which states have the highest rate of diplomas among its 25-and-ups? Minnesota ranks first. There, a healthy 91.2 percent of its residents 25 or older have earned their high school diplomas.

Other states in which more than 90 percent of 25-year-olds and higher have nabbed high school diplomas are Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska.

If you want to see where your particular state ranks, just click on the infographic attached to this story. You might be surprised at how high, or how low, your state ranks. Maybe your neighbors aren’t as smart as you think they are.

And who knows? It might give you more ammunition in the insult battles you wage with your neighboring states.

We’ve all been taught that going to college and earning a degree is the secret to financial happiness.

But is this always true? The Washington Post recently wrote a feature story arguing that in many cases, college degrees are bad investments. In fact, for many careers, workers will build to higher salaries in less time by gaining work experience in place of earning a four-year or master’s degree.

This really shouldn’t be too surprising. A college education is more expensive than ever these days. The average college student with a bachelor’s degree graduates from college with more than $20,000 in student loan debt. That’s a huge financial burden, especially when the national unemployment rate is so high.

For many students, it makes more sense to start working immediately after high school instead of pursuing a costly college degree that might not guarantee them a strong salary, anyway.

If you doubt this, consider some numbers:

The average yearly salary for a computer programmer with no work experience and no college degree stands at $49,005. For programmers with four years’ work experience and no college degree, that average salary rises to $60,730. Computer programmers with no work experience but a bachelor’s degree will earn an average of $51,182 a year. That same programmer who takes the time to earn a master’s degree, spending six years in college, but gaining no work experience, will earn an average salary of $62,803.

Do the rather small jumps in yearly salaries make up for the huge expenses involved in earning a computer science degree? That’s a question that college students will have to answer for themselves.

The numbers are similar for other professions, too, though, when it comes to weighing the costs of a college education with the extra salary that comes with it.

Construction workers, for instance, earn an average of $22,336 a year with no college degree and no experience. With four years experience and no degree, they earn an average of $40,620 a year. Construction workers with a bachelor’s degree and no work experience earn $24,490, while those with a master’s degree and no work experience earn $31,299. That’s significantly less than what they earn with no degree and four years of work experience.

What about other professions? Graphic designers with no college degrees and no years on the job earn an average of $31,551 a year. With no degree and four years of work time, they earn $38,979 on average. Those graphic designers with a bachelor’s degree but no work experience pull down an average of $32,230 a year. Those with master’s degree earn on average $34,613. Again, work in the field proves far more valuable than those advanced college degrees.

The story is the same for journalists and writers. The average journalist with no degree and no experience will make $29,458 a year. That same journalist after four years of work experience, but no degree, will earn $35,843 every year. Journalists with a bachelor’s degree but no work experience will make $31,234 a year on average. Those with master’s degrees and no experience will pull down an average of $32,862.

Of course, these numbers shouldn’t be the determining factor in whether you attend college. For many professions, it’s impossible to get a job unless you have a four-year degree. In others, your ability to rise through the ranks increases with the more education you have.

However, these numbers are important ones to keep in mind as you debate your choice of major. If you want to enter a field in which salaries aren’t boosted much, if at all, by college degrees, you may decide to skip college and enter the workforce immediately.

Blame it on Monica Lewinsky. It’s difficult to think of college interns these days without thinking of scandal, SEX and swindles. When Congress became infatuated with that infamous stained blue dress, the reputation of college interns across the country became suspect.

Turns out, Lewinsky is far from the only college intern guilty of bad behavior while on the job. (Enlarge The Graphic Here)

A host of college students have stolen priceless moon rocks, had affairs on the job and otherwise caused their families, colleges and employers great embarrassment. A few have even taken down members of Congress.

Where’d Those Moon Rocks Go?

Consider the unusual case of Tiffany Fowler, Thad Roberts and Shae Saur. The three interns, each from different schools, didn’t know each other before they took an internship at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. But they sure got to know each other well during the time at the center.

Seems the three interns had decidedly sticky fingers.

The interns nabbed moon rocks from the center. And these weren’t your ordinary old rocks: They were worth $1,000 to $5,000 a gram. Those are awfully pricy rocks!

Officials at the Johnson Space Center grew suspicious when the stolen rocks showed up for sale on the Web site of the Mineralogy Club of Antwerp, Belgium, a year after the interns concluded their ill-fated internship.

The Stripper Intern (Of course)

You can’t have internship scandals without a bit of sex. Just ask Michelle Szuhay. She worked as an intern with the Ohio Liquor Control agency in Cincinnati. Part of her job, apparently, was to investigate local strip clubs to make sure they weren’t violating any state liquor laws. Of course, she had to do this as a stripper.

To help Szuhay, liquor control agents stole the identity of a local woman and gave it to their new intern. This turned out not be such a smart move. Local officials weren’t thrilled to learn that a government agency was engaging in identity theft. (Enlarge The Graphic Here)

People weren’t pleased, either, when they learned that the liquor control agents were giving Szuhay $100 a night for her stripping services.

For Good Measure, Another Sex Scandal

Tennessee Sen. Paul Stanley was a fairly anonymous state politician until he took 22-year-old college intern McKenzie Morrison under his wing. Stanley taught Morrison about more than checks and balances and Robert’s Rules of Order.

Can you guess the rest? Sure … Stanley had an affair with the intern. This neither pleased Stanley’s wife nor his constituents. He resigned from office in 2009, effectively ending his political career.

The Frisky Talk Show Host

Some intern scandals make the big time. Such was the case of David Letterman’s affairs with interns Stephanie Birkitt and Holly Hester. Letterman, who was married at the time, carried on a string of affairs with the interns, usually entertaining them in the secret bedroom at the Ed Sullivan Theater. (Does anything sound more salacious than a secret bedroom?)

Of course, even with all these newcomers to the field, Lewinsky still tops the charts when it comes to scandalous interns. After all, she did much more than Republican candidates Bob Dole or George Bush ever did to derail the Clinton presidency.

It’s hard to believe now, but the nation was enthralled by the tales of the naughty president and his young intern. Clinton’s famous declaration that he did not have sex “with that woman” will live on in intern-scandal lore.

The whole mess eventually led to Clinton’s impeachment.

Oddly enough, the scandal in the long run didn’t much hurt Clinton. He still remained a favorite among voters. And today, most of Clinton’s voters still look back favorably on Clinton’s time in office.

Of course, Lewinsky never stole any moon rocks …

Politicians like to argue about it. Teachers defend their work. And school administrators? They’re just trying to survive. But none of this changes the basic fact: A rising number of students are failing to graduate from U.S. high schools.

This is depressing news. But it shouldn’t be shocking to anyone.

That’s because a growing number of students are also living in poverty. Even if you’re not good at math, it’s plain to see an equation at work here: Students in poverty equal students who don’t graduate.

Poverty, the Great Distraction

It’s no easy task for students to concentrate on algebra, social studies and physics when they’re hungry all the time. Students whose families are struggling through poverty simply have the odds stacked against them.

Check out the numbers in the chart—In 2008, the there were 16,122 schools classified as high poverty in the United States. That means a high percentage of families with kids in that school were families that are living at or below poverty level. And the federal poverty level is really stinking low—these people are POOR.

Not surprisingly, these schools tend to perform the worst when it comes to standardized test scores and graduation rates. It’s time to stop blaming the teachers. POVERTY is the problem; again, it’s difficult for teachers to get poor students to focus on their studies when they’re more worried about whether they’ll still have a place to live once the dismissal bell rings.

Numbers to Make You Nervous

The numbers are downright frightening when it comes to schools and poverty. Only 68 percent of the students enrolled in high-poverty schools went on to graduate from them in 2007-2008. Just 28 percent of these students during the same period eventually attended four-year colleges or universities.

And don’t think this problem is going away any time soon. The numbers are actually getting worse. In 1999-2000, 86 percent of students at high-poverty schools graduated. Yes, things were better for public education a decade ago. That’s depressing, too; not only haven’t we made progress since then, we’ve fallen back.

Students at low-poverty schools, again not surprisingly, tend to perform much better. Of these students, 91 percent eventually graduated in 2007-2008. A higher percentage, 52 percent, also went on to attend a four-year secondary institution. These students aren’t necessarily smarter than their counterparts at high-poverty schools. They just have more advantages: They know where they’re going to sleep each night. And they’re not worried that the power will be shut off when they get home.

California and Texas: More than a Million in Poverty

Of course, certain states are more likely to have high-poverty schools. These are the same states that have the largest number of poor residents under the age of 18.

California, the Golden State leads the nation in high-poverty schools! Okay, so it’s got the biggest population of all the states, but still, the state with the OC and Hollywood had more than 1.7 million residents under the age of 18 living in poverty in 2009. Texas came in second with 1.4 million, while New York State came in third place with 837,435.

Coming in fourth was Florida with 726,383 residents under the age of 18 living in poverty. Illinois rounded out the top five with its 531,774 residents under the age of 18 living in poverty.

Expect the number of young residents living in poverty to increase as the national economy continues a recovery that can best be described as painfully slow. The national unemployment rate is still hovering between 9 percent and 10 percent. Too many people are out of work, and too many others are underemployed in low-paying jobs that don’t cover their bills.

A growing number of families are struggling to stay above the poverty line. For many, it’s a losing battle. This puts more pressure on school districts and teachers; they’re forced to try to educate students who have so many other problems with which to deal.