[t-writescode]

> I do have a job at a cybersecurity firm where I'm a part-time developer, and my boss would probably convert me to full-time.

You already have a job and your boss has made you a developer. One thing you'll get in school that you won't get on the job, in general, is algorithm training. This is an important step for developing the best code you can and being exposed to weird and different ways to write things. This is important.

I personally do not see a real advantage to going to an elite school, depending on how you define elite school. If you're speaking Ivy League or some school that's world renowned, then no, that's not really important, I don't think. You already have contacts in the industry and there are "lesser" schools that are still pretty great.

Your company might be willing to pay for your college education. It almost certainly won't be from MIT; but, it could greatly reduce the costs you're worried about.

The next thing to consider is future employment, not this employment. Future companies that you work for may want you to have a degree or look down on you for your lack of one. Lacking particularly impressive projects or lots of random technologies on your resume may cause this.

Whether you decide that's going to matter or not is up to you; but, I think the one thing you should make sure you have experience in, either way, are the classes seen as less important for day to day development: your algorithm classes, discrete math classes, and similar. You can get much of that education online and for either free (YouTube, etc) or through educational sites like Pluralsight.

[toomuchtodo]

I have no college education because decades ago, I was in the same situation as OP: had a job in hand, so I went to work instead of college. It was the best choice I ever made. I never worked somewhere that required a degree, three years into my career was making six figures, and have made at least that for the next ~20 years of my career. I had no student debt, or school expenses. I have had employers offer reimbursement to go get the the undergrad checkbox, which I’ve passed on (more important things to do IMHO).

YouTube, online material, and actual experience of trial and error will take you a long way without a degree. You probably also don’t want to work someplace that prioritizes a degree over experience. Don’t forget to network: that’s the biggest ROI you’ll ever have. It’s who you know, not what you know. Two cents from 20+ years.

[non-entity]

> You probably also don’t want to work someplace that prioritizes a degree over experience.

No but I want to work on the things they're working on.

As much as I despise the absolute scam that's peddled by universities, and dont think they're for everyone, they can still open up a lot of opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible or highly difficult to access. OTOH If all you're worried about is money, then yeah no, you probably don't want to waste your time there

[toomuchtodo]

Money buys options. Options are freedom. Don’t let others gate you unnecessarily. We all operate in a physical world that doesn’t care about credentials as long as you adhere to the laws of physics (caveat aside for professionals that require credentials by law, such as the medical profession and such).

Going to school in another country that’s more reasonable about costs (Europe comes to mind) is also an option.

Consider more efficient paths to the end state you desire is all I’m suggesting.

[t-writescode]

Or honestly state colleges. There's some really great state colleges in the US and they're far less expensive than some of the other options out there.

[electriclove]

Do you feel not having a degree has slowed your career progression?

[toomuchtodo]

Not at all. I’ve worked for startups, enterprises, the US government, and provide guidance to Congressional representatives on an ongoing basis on technology policy. No one worth working for has asked for a degree.

I still get inquiries from Amazon and Facebook for roles. Not Google, but I’d never work for them anyway (nor Facebook or Amazon, for completeness).

I also intend to run for public office, which has age constraints, but no educational requirement.

[solidasparagus]

As a counterpoint - having an elite school on your resume is beneficial for your career. It won't get you jobs, but it will get you interviews and can help you in the interviews (the interviewer's assumptions about you tend to be positive).

[rlanday]

That was back when an elite degree meant that you had valuable social connections and not that you spent $80k a year watching ungraded lecture videos in your parents’ basement.