Some studies have found a pretty clear link between divorce and college education. The more education you have, the more likely you are to stay married.
For instance, one study looked at women without a college education and discovered that only 40% of them would stay married for two decades. The majority would get divorced. On the other side of the equation, 78% of the women who did have a college education would make it to that 20-year mark and still be married. While their education did not make them immune to divorce, it certainly changed the odds.
Why is this? There are a few possible reasons.
First off, you have to look at financial security. Money problems can lead to divorce. Those who have a college education, on average, earn more than those who do not. That financial instability on the part of those with only a high school education or less could cause them to split up.
Another issue is age. Many couples who go to college get married after they graduate. It feels like a traditional next step. They may even wait for a few years after college graduation. Those who do not go to college tend to marry earlier in life. Studies have found that marrying at a younger age increases the chances of a divorce, so it could have more to do with age than level of education.
No matter when you got married, how long you went to school or how much money you earn, divorce may become a reality for you. If it does, you need to know what legal steps to take and what rights you have.