Knowledge is power. But a new research study shows that more education may mean a longer life, too.

Researchers based at the University of Washington and the National Institutes of Health found that Americans who hold a college degree can expect to live nearly 11 years longer, on average, than those who did not complete high school.

In the year 2000, the gap was about eight years between the two groups.

Between 2000 and 2019, college graduates gained about 2.5 years in life expectancy, while there was no increase among those without a high school diploma. As of 2019, the average life expectancy of a college graduate was 84 years. For those who did not graduate high school, average life expectancy was 73½ years.

The study also examined population and death data for every county in the U.S., and it turns out that location matters, too. In some places, like Colorado, life expectancy was nearly the same across all education levels, whereas the greatest disparities were in parts of the Southeast, Appalachia, and South Dakota.

The researchers said several factors are likely responsible for the life expectancy gap. Those with more education often have higher-paying jobs, greater access to health care, fewer lifestyle risk factors, and better living conditions. The study noted that those with a high school diploma and those with some college education saw increases in life expectancy of less than a year.

While a college education may not guarantee, the study demonstrates just how important education and location can be when it comes to life expectancy.

So, what time does class start?