Educational attainment comes to those who have had the opportunity and material resource backing to go to school and get an education. The more financially capable can get better education from better schools that are, more often than not, more expensive. Quality has its price.

The strength of educational attainment lies in the fact that it gives an educated person a certain level of stature in society, as well as a certain level of knowledge and wisdom that can beneficially rub off on others.

Educational attainment’s weakness lies in its very capacity of knowledge, information, wisdom, and insight. Those who know more can do more for their kind, again tipping the balance against those who are more ignorant. Knowledge is power. For some who have been educated, this power is used adversely against those who may block their path to more power.

There are people who have inherent intelligence but cannot get themselves into schools. This results in their intelligence not being further developed or brought out into the open. Hence, the world is lesser with potentially intelligent population. On the other hand, a not so bright individual who can afford to pay the tuition to MBA schools will, most likely, get an MBA degree.

Occupational status is often proportional to educational attainment. Opportunities at employment are given more to those who have had better education. The kind of work is always commensurate to skills training and knowledge base. Incomes are derived from occupations. Higher paying jobs command more opportunity to spend more. Again, the cycle of consumption rears its ugly head.

Also, there is in society the practice that employment is measured by the level of talent that one can bring into the job. Talent is trained. Only those who can afford training can eventually gain talent, thereby tipping the balance once again against those who are less fortunate to not afford appropriate training for the job.

Someone who has an MBA degree and a few technical course training certificates tucked in his belt will most likely go up the corporate ladder quicker than the one without. He will also, most likely, have a very fat compensation package.

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Via US Department of Labor