Depends on the person, not a must. I barely made it out of HS, straight D student, was too concerned w/ girls, lifting,beer drinking.
Didn't go to college.
Been in IT Networks/Security for 25 years now, last 20 at this same job (though company was bought and sold 8 times). They started everyone at 100K back in 1999/2000.
So salary grew. Many of us from the initial startup are still there, why leave a cush, high paying gig?
(Hired in the startup of craze of late 90's, early 2K, made it thru the burst-bubble of tech, back in early 2K's).
For some, college can be great for ones career. We get lots of co-op students in each summer in the internet engineering programs, many are hired full-time after college.
(Into a high paying, cush job). I put my 2 kids thru college as I wanted them to have that degree, go on internships (one went to S. Korea for 10-week internship).
I'm on the back nine now, w/ 7-10years left to work, but I landed a good job/life w/out college. Some are different.