How much is a college degree really worth?

It's amazing that college tuition continues to go up while the average family income remains stagnant. And those who can afford to graduate, finish with ever-growing college-loan debt. So what is a college degree really worth?

That's what the College Board tried to figure out in a new report titled "Education Pays," which details the financial, career and even health benefits of earning a college degree. The College Board started this study in 2004, updated it in 2007 and again this year. Its final results, however, have remained the same: employees with a four-year college degree earn much more and are less likely to be unemployed than those with just a high school diploma. Median earnings for full-time workers with bachelor's degrees in 2008 were $55,700, compared to $33,800 for those without them.