I love these threads, the comedy in here is sometimes funny and sad at the same time.
College degree is something that gives you credibility, but more importantly OPTIONS. If you pay attention a traditional university teaches you how to get along with people of varied backgrounds, time managment, and communication skills (written/oral). Those skills learned between the ages of 18 -22 are ones that will help you for the rest of your life.
I know people without college degrees that do "ok". But the problem is that they lack OPTIONS. They were GOOD employees at their job and worked their way up. The problem is that they can't LEAVE that employer... because another company is not going to hire them in at anywhere near the same salary/wage without a college degree. These same individuals also get salty, everytime the company hires a kid straight out of college at the same PAY that it took them 10 years to work up to.
A college degree is not a guarantee for success. Drive, ambition are important as well. But the degree does give you the option of finding gainful EMPLOYMENT easier than the person without it. Please keep in mind that the unemployment rate is close to 10%. But for those with a college degree it is under 5%.
According to the US CENSUS BUREAU the average income for a person over the age of 25 with just a highschool diploma is $26,505...but $49,303 with a 4 year degree.