I know this isn't what you're looking for, but it depends on your situation.
My personal belief is that EVERYONE is entitled to a college education, but it is not the right CHOICE for everyone. Unfortunately, today's society has told everyone that they should go to college. This results in unprepared students who go to college for a year or two and leave with debt and no degree.
Consider your options for associates degrees or technical certificates as you've mentioned. For some, that's definitely the answer.
If you were to survey a group of people, I'd bet you'd get some answers that some of the group wishes they hadn't spend the time and money on a college education.
You should always TRY to choose a path in life that makes you happy. Unfortunately, that doesn't always lead to a productive degree field in which you'd enter. But since society tells young people that they MUST go to college, they go. They major in general studies or the like. They have debt and a degree worth nothing.
Don't put yourself in that situation.