College is NOT essential.
Most important is demonstrated capacity within your chosen field of work. Most if not all governments will consider actual industry work experience more highly than a piece of paper, particularly when a visa-application is employer-backed.
I am 30 and never got a degree, but have worked in loads of countries.
Getting in debt for an education is often a stupid move ... but the alternative means that you will need to commit to excelling in your chosen field of endeavor, and not everyone has that level of motivation.