While you may be daunted by how to pay for college now, over the course of your working life, that education will pay off.

A 2002 study based on U.S. Census Bureau statistics estimates the average annual earnings (in 1999 dollars) of workers with varying levels of education. The results clearly show that the higher the education level, the greater the earnings.

Higher eduction, greater earnings

• Professional degree (doctor, lawyer, etc.) = $109,600 • Doctoral degree = $89,400 • Master's degree = $62,300 • Bachelor's degree = $52,200 • Associate degree = $38,200 • High school diploma = $30,400

So now that you have your college funding in place, what are you going to study? If you enter college not knowing what you'd like to do for a living -- like most college freshmen -- perhaps knowing where the fastest growing jobs according to degree will help you.

The chart below shows the top five jobs for those with a professional degree, doctorate, master's, bachelor's and associate. The information is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition and the BLS' "Fastest Growing Occupations 2004-2014."