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College isn't the only form of postsecondary education. There are also vocational and technical schools (collectively "vo-tech"), which train people in specific skills for specific jobs instead of providing a broad-spectrum education. And there's a growing field of technology "boot camps" that are basically super-intensive short classes that throw a TON of stuff at you in a big crunch.

In both cases, you come out with a certification instead of a degree. Depending on what field you go into, the certification might mean more or less than a degree, but it's proof of education/experience. Given the problems with getting a degree in today's economy, employers are increasingly starting to accept these certifications for entry-level jobs.

Once you're out of entry-level and have some real job experience, then the degree stops mattering. (The certification might still be important in some fields if they're part of mandatory licensing.)