If you are smart academically, then higher education is an absolute plus, or in some cases, a necessity. If you want to be a doctor, pharmacist, CPA, lawyer, CEO, or other position, trying to do it without higher education will be difficult if not impossible.
If you have some specific skill or trade such as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, or other trade, you can have your own business, no higher education, and still make a ton of money.
But if you want to be a doctor or pharmacist, try to do it without higher education in the US. Maybe you could bluff your way through in a third world country.
Rub a Dub