Is college really all what it is cracked up to be???

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Yep, 'tis. It took a bit of digging, but the most recent US census numbers are here:
www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0232.pdf (not enough karma yet to make a link, sorry).

As of 2009, mean yearly earnings across the entire population for "Some college, no degree" is $32,295. Get your bachelor's degree and that jumps up to $56,665.

Ok, but that's five years out of date, right? How about in the current economy? Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

the unemployment rate for "some college, no degree" was 7% with a median weekly salary of $727, and "Bachelor's degree" clocked in at a 4% unemployment rate with a $1,108 weekly salary.

If you want to look at recent graduate unemployment numbers by major, head over here:
georgetown.app.box.com/s/9t0p5tm0qhejyy8t8hub

Yes, things are a lot tougher for recent graduates, and there's significant variance across majors in terms of both unemployment and salary. But if you're playing the averages, going into debt for a STEM degree is probably the best investment you'll ever make.

I have recently been looking for a new job and let me tell you that if you don't have a degree then finding a job that pays well is far more difficult. If you do find a job that pays well without a degree there is a high likelihood that you won't be as eligible for promotion as someone who does have a degree.

Of course that is not ALWAYS true, but there are studies out there that show college graduates make more over their lifetime then those who don't graduate.

I do have a degree - and no I don't use it - but the fact that I have it shows that I can stick with something that is difficult over a long period of time.

I'm sure what program you pick will dictate the success you have in the job market but even with a good degree, you won't have much luck getting a job when you have to compete with other applicants who have a degree and several years of work experience you need. Nowadays I've actually heard people say that the college degree is like the new high school diploma because getting a degree is the only way you can keep up with everyone else. I can tell you that work experience is always going to win employers over a degree. Employers nowadays don't want to have to train anybody and they want proven talent. A piece of paper that says you studied isn't enough. I can tell you I have never been able to get any jobs with my degree yet either. All the jobs I've gotten have only required a high school diploma. I think in order to truly make yourself competitive when you graduate, you'll need to take internships while you are in school and that can make a difference. I regret not taking any internships because now that I've graduated, I can't even do internships now because they want people IN school to do them, not graduates, But in the end I still do feel that my degree can maybe help me with a promotion someday. There are some entry level companies like Coca Cola or Pepsi who will promote others with any degree, no matter what it's in.