There are at least two categories of men who don't go to college. The first is men who would likely succeed in whatever they attempt. Those are the people who make money, build businesses, etc. The other group works retail or something similar. Whether those guys go to college or not, they are not likely to get far in a career. 

Compare state college grads to skilled tradesmen and any income gap is probably close to nil. 

I was a cubicle rat for too long and finally had to branch out on my own.