I know how important a degree is. (I write about career education for a living, after all!) I know that a degree can be key to getting a good job and a bigger paycheck. Education opens your world and sharpens your mind. I know. What I didn’t know is that education can actually lengthen your life.

This recently in from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University:

While life-expectancy has increased significantly for educated people over the last 20 years, it has plateaued for less educated people. In other words, those whose education level does not exceed high school have not been sharing the benefits of prolonged lifespan. This is the case for both African Americans and Caucasians. Deaths related to tobacco use account for at least one-fifth of the growth in mortality differences by education that create this life-expectancy gap.

Basically, those with more than 12 years of education are now shown to have significantly longer life expectancy than those who never went beyond high school. In the groups studied, as of 2000, those who were better educated at age 25 could expect to live to age 82; for the less educated, 75.

Is that motivation enough to finally get your degree off the backburner?

If not, consider this: Not only can education lengthen your life, it can help you live better, too.

According to the 2007 edition of the College Board’s “Education Pays” report, the more educated you are, the healthier you are. In 2005, 61 percent of four-year college graduates ages 25-34 exercised vigorously at least once a week. Only 31 percent of high school graduates did so.

In fact, at every age, those with higher levels of education are more likely to engage in leisure-time exercise than those with lower levels of education. Numerous studies investigating the relationship between education and health support the idea that the skills, attitudes, and patterns of thought fostered by education lead to more responsible health-related behaviors.

For a wellness-seeking society, these are correlations worth considering. Because your degree pursuit won’t just plump your paycheck — it will change your life!

-Robyn Tellefsen