A new report from Demos, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization, finds that the field of study chosen by students matters a lot in terms of the economic value and employability of a postsecondary education.

The report, Graduated Success: Sustainable Economic Opportunity Through One- and Two-Year Credentials, shows that finishing a community college credential -- even a one-year certificate -- is often a smarter bet than going for broke and borrowing huge amounts and not completing a four-year degree. One- and two-year credentials in engineering and in health care can deliver higher salaries than bachelors degrees in other fields - for tuition costs that are lot less.

Students awarded one- or two-year certificates earn median annual salaries that are $8,000 a year more than those who leave school with no post-secondary award.

Posted 02/08/10 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.