[verbin217]

In my personal experience a solid work history is much better than a degree. Once you have it the value of a degree decreases significantly. Its almost entirely redundant. The only problem is you often need the degree to get the work history.

I've also noticed as I start working with people who have their Masters and some with PHDs that people take me seriously. It's like... I must know what I'm talking about. How else would I still be here?

[vonmoltke]

Not having a degree does lock you out of some opportunities where HR uses it as a binary checkbox. We can go on and on here about how such policies are stupid and how you wouldn't really want to work at a place like that anyway, but the fact of the matter is not having a degree closes doors. In that sense, there is value to having one.

[busterarm]

Especially at companies that are using some SaaS product to streamline their recruitment process...Greenhouse, I'm looking at you.

I don't even bother applying to companies that do that anymore as it's counter to my whole "make a personal connection at the company to apply" philosophy.

[verbin217]

Right, I agree. Towards the end of my comment I tried to express that there is some value in not having one. Like entirely in addition to the benefits of, what I believe is, a superior education and lack of student debt.

If you're actively involved in doing this stuff you're going to be able to find the work you want. It's easy. You just contact the people working on it and tell them what you're going to do for them.

[ams6110]

That is true but if you have a good work history, in most cases nobody will really care where the degree is from, what you majored in, or what your grades were, etc. Only that you have a degree to satisfy that checkbox.