BLITZER: Tonight, 9:00 p.m., CNN explores the issue in a one hour special called "Ivory Tower," is college still worth the cost. Here's a preview.</s>CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some universities are starting to look like resorts, with pricey amenities like spas, rock walls and swimming pools, and they're passing along the bill to students. Tuition expenses have risen more than 1,200 percent since 1978. But Blackburn College in Illinois is keeping tuition costs low thanks to a little thrift. (on camera): Life in college is expanding with a $2.5 million renovation project. But a novel way to pay for it, student work crews. You can see where students, for years, have been literally laying the bricks.</s>HEATHER BIGARD, VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATION, BLACKBURN COLLEGE: Laying the bricks. We do maintain a pretty lean organizational staff structure and that's done with the expectation that we do use students to supplement those labor needs.</s>ROMANS: And it's not just construction jobs. 90 percent of the student body work 10 hours per week on campus in everything from gardening to security to administrative positions. In exchange, they get tuition credit. (on camera): What do you say to parents who say, oh, I don't want my student to go to school to work? I don't want them to be distracted. I want them to go to spend four years to learn.</s>BIGARD: We do have that. We do have parents that question that piece of it. What we explain to them is this is an enhancement to their overall portfolio that will make them more marketable upon graduation.</s>BLITZER: Don't miss "Ivory Tower," tonight, 9:00 p.m. eastern, only here on CNN. That's it for me. Thanks for watching. For our international viewers, "Amanpour" is coming up next. For our viewers in North America, "Newsroom" starts next right after a quick break.
Is College Education Worth it?