Good question. You can get a high school diploma by showing up to school everyday, whereas getting a GED is undertaken by someone who wants it and works for it, usually while overcoming other obstacles or while working full time. However, not all HS diplomas are created equal. Some HS diplomas reflect hard work done by the students, i.e. , AP classes, extra classes, PSEO classes, etc.
College diplomas are different. Students commit a lot of time and money to get a college degree. Again, it depends on the degree. A degree in liberal arts or humanities? Maybe not so much. A degree in business, engineering, the medical field, or education? Definitely. But college is not for everyone.