No college? Find your path forward.

Does a person have to go to college in the modern era in order to become successful in today’s world?  We probably have to define being “successful” in order to really answer this question.  Some paths that people use on their way to “success” in manufacturing do not include college.  CNC Programming, Machinist, Welder & Sales come to mind.  All of these involve training and commitment to your craft.  Technical Schools are a major contributor to the knowledge base in these fields.  As with anything many of the skills are gained by doing.  What are your thoughts?  Is college a requirement in the machining world?  What paths do you see that do not require a degree?