I didn't graduate until I was 29. All of my jobs, and I've been in management since I was 21, probably did not require a degree. Sure, many of the managers in my company have them, a lot of the product managers do not and were hired for their experience. Half my staff has degrees, a couple interior designers, one with a forrestry management degree, one with a business degree as well, but the other half do not. The ones without the degrees probably make just as much money based on their experience.
I've managed people with degrees in physics, english, journalism, accounting, interior design, architecture, forrestry management, engineering, etc.
How did I do it?
I got in to a niche industry and worked my ass off. Within the first year I was promoted to manage people that had been in the field for 20 years because they didn't have "it." The only reason I went back for my degree was becausee my ex wife's parents were both college professors. Has it done shit for me? No, not really.
A lot of work is what you do when you're in the door. If you kick ass without a degree, most of the time they will promote you over a person with a degree that sucks. It's just my opinion and what I've seen, but I've also seen where people get passed up for kids fresh out of school that think they're hot shit. Sometimes it's better to get in to a field and then go get your degree to advance. My stepdad ended up getting his degree then his MBA while working for a company. he started out on a factory line and 20 plus years later he makes close to 200k. Then at that same company there are plenty of guys that are still line guys after 30 years and haven't moved up.