raross is correct. A traditional college is the best route directly out of high school. The more prestigious and well known the better. If you have to go to a state college that's fine though. If you have to go to a community college and transfer to a state college that's fine as well. Honestly, you'll save money if you do the latter.
Online colleges are a great idea but are not as respected with employers as traditional colleges. As such, they should be a resort for older students who missed/never had the opportunity to go directly to a traditional college but have the experience through years of working hard in their field and want a degree but have to work full time, might be married with children, and cannot afford the time to go the traditional college route. Do NOT use them as an easy way out if you are graduating high school: Go to the traditional college instead.
Ideally, certifications should compliment a college degree not act as a replacement for it.
Don't get me wrong, certifications are useful and cool but if you are young (18-28) you should be full time in college (living at home and waiting tables at night if that's what it takes) getting a useful degree from a traditional college. You can then move straight into garnering certifications if your goal is to work in the computer industry.
Check the statistics. It's about your ability to earn over time and a good college degree combined with certifications and then coupled with experience will get you farther in the end.