I'll just tell you what I did/am doing. Take it for what it's worth.
I don't believe in getting a degree "to have something to fall back on". I believe if you have something the fall back on, then you'll wind up falling back ON it, because it's become a crutch.
If you belive in yourself as a trader, and you believe you can and will eventually be able to trade, then I say go for it.
I quit school after 3 years because I was at my wits end. Oh, it wasn't difficult, I just hated it. The policies, the politics of the professors, the boredom. But here's the bottom line:
At college, they had nothing to teach me that I wanted to learn for a career. Nothing at all.
Naturally it will be difficult for you to get a "good" job without a degree. Not everyone can do as I have done because of their specific situation. I have no kids, if you have kids, then you need a high paying job to support them.
Just figure out what your passion is, and follow it. Figure out the quickest way for you to achieve it. Figure out if you REALLY want to be a trader.
Eh, my point is that no, you don't need college. Some of us will in fact make it without a degree. (and sooner than if we had gone and spent all that extra money on tuition, i might add). I'd rather spend my tuition money on my trading education than on some stupid recreation facility at "we don't know how to lower tuition costs University". I swear they're worse than the full blown gov't in money management.
ok well i'm rambling, have a good day.