Maybe its because higher ed in the US isn't scarce, so not valued as highly. Not as big a deal to drop out, take a job, because there's a middle class to drop out into.
This wasn't businees-side jobs, this was the tech industry, all around the country (I was willing to relocate). Being a college dropout, no matter what the reason and to a certain degree, no matter your skills, still hurts your employability in the US.