Do grades matter in college, as long as you DON'T fail and earn your degree?

Some of them do, yes. And it isn't just employers you have to worry about, either. There are financial institutions that will sometimes look at college transcripts before they decide whether or not to grant you a mortgage or a loan. And if you plan on pursuing any kind of advanced degree (a master's or above) then college grades are extremely important. That's especially true for people who intend to become doctors,attorneys, or enter any other profession that requires a specialized degree. Getting into medical, dental, vet, pharmacy, nursing, or law school requires top college grades and good scores on the entrance exams.

And no, I'd have to say that for many if not most college graduates, their next goal isn't to start working, it's to finish their education by pursuing a master's or a doctorate, or attending med/law/vet/pharmacy/nursing or dental school if they want to become licensed professionals. Those who major in the STEM fields or in business in college may want to pursue advanced degrees because they can earn more that way. So doing well in college is very important.

employers want the best , so you work it out .. trolls wont be missed .

If you want to go to grad school grades are absolutely important. Keep a minimum of a 3.5 gpa in undergrad. And yes, I’ve had employers ask for transcripts. 

For a job, not graduate school. Your gpa can matters for your first job. Maybe you second job, depending on how long you are at your first job. It will depend on the field you are in, the company and the person interviewing you. 

Your competition may note their excellent gpa. My daughter graduated *** laude, her husband graduated summa com laude. That is noted on their resume.

And then there may be the fact that you are not prepared for you job if you went through college with a 2.0 gpa.

Not in my situation. But having an Honors gets you more than a 3 year.

Many do. Graduate schools all do.

Your college GPA matters for graduate school. Nearly all graduate schools have a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, and for more competitive programs (especially in the medical fields), the "de facto" GPA requirement is *much* higher. Even if you don't plan to go to graduate school now, you might change your mind after a few years in the workforce. 

As far as getting a job is concerned, my experience is different from the other answerers. I'd say, in most fields, GPA isn't that important. Most employers *don't* look at your transcript in making hiring decisions. Some will request a copy to verify your degree, after they've decided to hire you, but even that is less common now, and degrees are typically verified through Student Clearinghouse. 

There are some fields, like finance, where it *is* standard practice to consider GPA. But for the most part, for the companies I've worked for (including U.S. federal agencies and federal contractors), we'd focus on the degree and work experience, including internships and externships for entry-level positions. 

That said, often college internship positions are selected on the basis of GPA, since there is little relevant employment experience to go on, so that's another factor you should consider when deciding whether to blow off your lecture. 

Yes, they matter. They get you a job, or they get you into graduate school. All the really interesting jobs now require a graduate degree. 

The answer given by Don W. is correct.  A graduate's GPA is important.  When seeking their first career-type job after college, many new graduates don't have much to put on their resume.  A good GPA on your list of qualifications will help land that first position.  

A second reason for a good GPA is that it leaves options open for you later in life.  Both myself and a coworker decided to change careers in our late 20s/early 30s.  I decided to return to college to study accounting, while she elected to go for medical school.  We both had good grades from our first college degrees, and both of us were accepted into our respective new colleges.  That may not have happened had we both originally scraped by with Cs.  

Your first job or two after college often do look at your grades--they will ask for a college transcript.  Graduate with honors, and that further enhance your application.

But it's true that once you get established in your career, your grades won't matter.

Grades also matter if you have any plans to go to graduate school for a masters degree, where you need at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered.  If you want to go for a law or a medical degree, you need top grades.