Not sure if college is right for you? Think about this ...

According to a recent study conducted by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, 70 percent of recent high school graduates say they would need more education to have the successful careers they want.

And it doesn't get much better from there — they're much more likely to be financially dependent on their parents than those with higher education degrees, nearly half are looking for full-time employment and 36 percent report not having any health coverage at all.

So whether you're thinking of a four-year university, two-year college, vocational school or something else, one thing's clear: Just having a high school diploma is not enough to meet basic expenses in today's economic climate. Education beyond high school is a necessity.

Learn more about the difference education level can make, along with average salaries for each, on our What's a College Education Really Worth page.