The report states that Houston has the 10th-largest education wage gap in the US.

HOUSTON “Earning potential is what most college and high school students think about, and many ask, “Can what I’m doing now help me prepare for the future?”

Educators say that creating more economic potential and opportunity starts with them. Education and economic opportunities.

The new Smartest Dollar report looked at cities across the country and ranked Houston as the 10th-largest education wage gap in the US.

According to the report, the wage gap between young workers with and without a bachelor’s degree has never been greater. “That’s what’s in my head, which is why I’m planning to get a master’s degree, not just a bachelor’s degree,” said Alicia Brizuela, a student at the University of Houston.

College graduates working full-time in the Houston metro area earn about $80,000 a year, while high school graduates earn about $40,000 a year, according to the report.

“It always seemed unfair to me that a child could graduate from high school and go to college just to be able to earn a living. This is unacceptable to me,” Alief ISD superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays said.

Mays said that in order to start closing the gap, educators need to create opportunities for students to earn industry certifications by the time they graduate from high school.

“If you want to get a higher education, you can get it. For someone to have a better future, it is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars,” said University of Houston student Ijeoma Aka.

While earning potential is important, it is not the main thing for all students.

“I really hope it pays well, but my biggest concern is being happy at the end of the day,” said Theomisha Thomas, a student at the University of Houston.

California and Virginia top the list of states with the largest pay gap in education, according to the report.

To see the report, Click here.