The colleges benefit from alarmism to the ends that not going to college will result in one starving to death flipping burgers.
I also have the same credentials, and I tend to agree. Most of the people I hang out with do not have college behind them.Bachelors and Masters degree holder here. The more and more I reflect on my time in the hallowed halls of academia I realize that they are a bastion of free thought. As long as your thought agrees completely with theirs.
And to your point, I know a stone mason who just bought a nice piece of property by me for cash. No college education for him and he can't figure out ways to spend all the money he's making. Know plenty of other skilled tradesmen who are doing rather well too. Better than me at least and for far less BS.