[curuinor]

But they don't have as much experience programming?

Sure, there's fields where the domain knowledge is prerequisite to do anything at all, but that doesn't make you a better programmer for it.

[account2]

>But they don't have as much experience programming?

Then by that metric you don't even need a degree and your initial point of a BS > Masters > Bootcamp is nullified by the self-taught programmer that has programmed longer than anyone else in that group that happens to apply for your position. But that doesn't necessarily mean they will be a better programmer in the long term.

[curuinor]

Self-taught is better when they have more good experience, yes.