Why do employers care so much about college?

During my 10 months of post-military job searching without a single interview a small handful of emails were sent to me saying "not enough education." This last summer semester I cranked out an ociates in general studies by CLEPing and taking golf, bowling, etc. at a community college. I'm now 4 for 5 getting interviews since putting the degree on my resume with two of the four offering me a position. I cannot fathom how taking 6 joke PE cles somehow made me a more viable job candidate and I have a strong urge to turn them down and just become a hobo on principle.