Abstract: The problem of studying education, values of education, and educational potential of the Russians is relevant in the current context, when professional, continuing education, and self-education become the intrinsic elements of modern life. Education is the factor of achieving life and career success, a crucial competitive advantage on the job market, opens career growth opportunities, such as prestigious and top-paying job. It plays one of the key roles in social development and ensuring economic upturn of the country. The subject of this research is education within the structure of factors of life and career success. The goal lies in the analysis of education as the factor of success of the Russians. As a result of theoretical analysis, the author offers the original structural model of life and career success, new empirical data on education within the structure of values of the youth, as well as materials of qualitative research on life and career success among youth. The conducted analysis demonstrates that education, including higher education, does not hold the leading position within the structure of values of Russian youth, yielding to family, health and material well-being. It is neither among the top factors of life success. At the same time, Russian youth agree to the fact that education contributes to career growth. Young people rate the knowledge high and are willing to give their best for decent education. Self-education, lifelong learning expands the career-building opportunities, allows getting a prestigious and top-paying job. At the same time, professional success requires personal efforts of the individual and fulfillment of their potential. Certain role in this process is played by the system of useful social contacts. The current socioeconomic situation in the country also affects education and educational plans of youth.