Is it really worth all the effort to get a college degree? From a philosophical point of view, the love of learning is sufficient reason to get a college degree. However, the U.S. Census Bureau also makes another relevant point. Annually, college graduates (bachelor's degree) earn on average $23,291 more than high school graduates. This means college graduates earn about 83.4% more than high school graduates, and according to "Education Pays" shown below, the gap in earnings is increasing. Furthermore, as the College Board indicates, for most Americans college remains relatively affordable.