There is a lot more to college than what you learn in the classroom. It is a transitional period for many people from high school and a life at home with their parents to the real world with a much greater amount of personal responsibility. In college you learn to prioritize with limited time and resources and those lessons are often of much greater value than anything that can be taught in the classroom. I would say that 99% of those who argue that the requirement for a college degree in the aviation field is not necessary are pilot's who aren't college educated and want to justify why they should be hired at the highest level of the industry. You may think it is just an expensive piece of paper but it proves that you were able to begin and complete a set of coursework while balancing the rest of your life. Honestly, it is usually pretty obvious when I fly with someone who isn't college educated, although it happens very rarely for a reason. NO OFFENSE, but go finish up school.