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My main advice is to try to focus on a role or category of role and speak to actual people with that job and who hire for that job. What you are after are practical suggestions about getting from where you are to where you want to be. It's possible - but also not extremely likely - that an additional degree is worth the effort and expense. But don't sell your current knowledge and experience short - and for goodness sake do not throw it away. Leverage it and be the programmer who now does 'x', bringing all of what made you a great programmer to the table.