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In my opinion, I would highly recommend college. However, I don't recommend it for a better career, for more options, for more money, or even to enrich yourself academically. I personally find all of those prospects reason enough, but that's just me. I like school, and I want to keep my options open. It will potentially increase your income, but it isn't assured.
The fact is that if you go to college for the full 4 years, you are very likely to find something that you will enjoy doing - more so than anything you would have landed in without the experience. Before I went to college I was positive I wanted to work with computers. Going to college (and that has only been 1 year so far), I've realized that there are many things I would find greater enjoyment in.
I will probably be making less money than I planned, as well. I went to college to go into computers because it would help me to get a good job - but the money isn't what I want out of life, and as much as people may claim it's what they want, I don't think they do either. People want to be happy, and as appealing as endless money and high-paying jobs may seem to people, it's not a surefire route to happiness (and is probably quite the opposite in many cases).
College is worth it merely because you see more options going there, not because it opens them. It is very possible that you will come out of college wanting even more strongly to work as a mailman or in a secretarial job. And while I think your girlfriend is okay following her dream, you're completely right - she might not end up where she thinks. College is not guaranteed to improve you life.
But the point is: Going to college, you find what you want. I'm sure I'm still going to modify my path significantly - I haven't found what I want - but I found the right direction. If I hadn't gone, I wouldn't have even found that.
However, if you think that you can be completely happy with where you're going, sans college, then you don't need it. Just make sure you feel good about the path you're taking - don't skip college just because it's a quicker, easier path. You might miss out on a career you could love. Skip it if you're sure you're already happy with where you're going.
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