I’d not want to hire someone without the “college degree” box checked.
Yes, that isn’t sufficient - but it is necessary.
In an interview I don’t have time to evaluate all the topics I expect competence in. That checkbox assures high likelihood the candidate does have that knowledge. I’ve worked with non-degreed engineers, and while competent they did have gaping holes that would have been filled in a degree program.
That checkbox also assures that a candidate can take on a years-long project which requires satisfaction of a broad range of requirements to the approval of a large number of experts. Having been a college prof, I saw how many were filtered out by this process, unable or unwilling (!) to do the work.
Yes, many who graduate are not sufficiently competent (being a quasi-manager, I’m stunned by the lack of competency in candidates with Masters’ degrees) ... but if the degreed are that bad, how much worse those who couldn’t even manage to complete a degree in anything?
“but if the degreed are that bad, how much worse those who couldn’t even manage to complete a degree in anything?”
Anything? Really?
Yours is precisely the out-dated attitude that has to be overcome by folks choosing an alternative educational path. That you think your correct is the problem.