In the ever-changing tech industry, the debate over the relevance of college degrees remains contentious. Companies like Dell, Google, and Bank of America lead the charge in hiring developers and interns without college degrees. However, some still argue degrees are indispensable and hold weight in today’s job market. 

This article will delve into both perspectives and examine the data to answer this pivotal question. So, whose argument holds true? Let’s find out.

The Argument Against Degrees

In recent years, the perceived value of a college education has shifted, and it’s no surprise why. Mastery of coding is within reach for anyone, courtesy of an abundance of free online resources, coding boot camps, and specialized IT schools. The rise of generative AI tools has also made it easier to start building software.

Here are some arguments for why degrees aren’t necessary for developers:

The Evolution of Tech Learning

Tech education has undergone a drastic shift. The rise of online courses and YouTube tutorials has democratized access to knowledge. In fact, 80% of developers used online resources in 2023 to learn new coding skills. 

This democratization of knowledge empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in technology, regardless of their geographical location or financial means. Coding boot camps have emerged as an alternative to traditional education, offering immersive and intensive programs designed to fast-track individuals into tech roles. If you can learn everything you need to know about development outside the classroom, do you really need a degree?

Big Tech No Longer Requires A Degree

As the tech industry evolves, it’s becoming increasingly evident that traditional college routes are no longer the sole path to success. Major players in the industry, such as Meta (Facebook), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google, collectively known as FAANG, are expanding their hiring practices. Beyond Silicon Valley, companies of every size benefit from a skills-based hiring approach.

Skills-First Hiring: Unlocking Talent Diversity

Over-reliance on degrees can inadvertently exclude talented individuals with alternative learning styles or those who lack the financial means to pursue higher education. In the fast-paced world of tech, where autonomous learning and problem-solving reign supreme, practical skills often hold more weight than an embossed piece of paper.

Companies that value practical skills and real-world experience over formal degrees open doors to a broader range of talented developers. These developers bring diverse skills across various industries, locations, and job roles. By focusing on skills-first hiring, a company can dramatically increase its talent pool, potentially by a whopping 20 times.

You Don’t Need a Degree for Networking or Soft Skills

College isn’t the only option for developers to hone their non-technical skills.

Networking isn’t confined to college campuses alone. Industry conferences, meetups, and online forums provide alternative avenues for developers to connect with peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. And platforms like LinkedIn have democratized professional networking, allowing developers to network regardless of their educational background.

Similarly, while college provides opportunities for developing soft skills through classes, extracurricular activities, and group projects, other avenues can also be effective. Soft skills are best learned through hands-on experiences and real-world challenges, where individuals learn to adapt, collaborate, and innovate in different situations.

In reality, attending college alone doesn’t guarantee mastery of soft skills. Instead, having a diverse portfolio that showcases collaborative projects and experiences and participating in immersive boot camps and workshops may provide a more accurate assessment of an individual’s soft skill proficiency.

Higher Education Can’t Keep Up With Innovation

The proliferation of AI tools has initiated a significant wave of innovation, and tech is changing at an unprecedented rate. With the help of tools like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot, tasks that used to take hours to execute now take developers minutes. Seemingly every day a new language or machine learning model is being released that changes developers skills. 

And higher education isn’t exactly known for making quick changes. College curriculum aren’t getting updated on a weekly basis to keep up with the latest innovations. This has developers and higher ed professionals alike wondering: if computer science courses aren’t teaching developers the skills they need to succeed, is a degree even necessary anymore?

The Argument for Degrees

While some companies still prioritize traditional college degrees, the reasons behind this preference are multifaceted. Let’s examine some reasons why a developer may want a degree.

Regulatory Compliance

Specific sectors within the tech industry, such as finance and government contracting, often require degrees as part of regulatory compliance or contractual obligations. Larger corporations may use degrees as a screening mechanism to handle the high volume of applications.

Networking Opportunities in Higher Education

Many think networking is a critical benefit of college life. Students interact with professors, peers, and industry figures in college, fostering connections that can lead to valuable opportunities like internships, job offers, and collaborative ventures.

The Role of College in Soft Skill Development

College education often receives praise for its role in developing essential soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and time management. Employers value these skills as they complement technical expertise and can significantly enhance career opportunities in the tech industry. 

What Does The Data Say: Do Degrees Still Matter?

Opinions for and against degrees within the tech industry are skewed. To better understand the value of degrees for developers, we conducted an extensive survey as part of our 2024 Developer Skills Report, gathering insights from developers, recruiters, and executives.

While a college degree may look nice on your CV, we asked whether it actually prepares developers with the skills needed to excel in their workplace. In our 2024 survey, most respondents said no. 

Only 31% of students—less than a third — believe a college education prepares them to work as developers. Developers and executives also exhibit particularly low confidence in the preparedness conferred by college degrees.

Interestingly, recruiters felt different. About 38% felt that degrees were crucial for grads’ careers. But even in this group, there were doubts, with 30% saying degrees don’t help much with job opportunities. 

A Cenegate study agrees with our findings. In this study, around 21% said their degrees didn’t prepare them well for their careers, and 33% felt their degrees didn’t do much to help them find jobs. 

Future Outlook

As hiring practices evolve and developers’ perspectives shift, it’s becoming clear that a degree no longer serves as the sole gatekeeper to tech jobs. Nowadays, many tech companies prioritize developers with a robust portfolio over those solely relying on a degree.

This change is fueled by the accessibility of tech education through online resources, empowering individuals to learn and refine their skills independently. Forward-thinking companies acknowledge that skills can be acquired outside traditional academic settings, making a solid portfolio a more reliable indicator of capability than a degree.

Ultimately, what truly matters in the tech industry is the value you bring through your skills and expertise. The data indicates that degrees are increasingly becoming less of a barrier to entry for tech jobs, signaling a positive shift in the industry. It’s not about where you studied; it’s about your ability to deliver results and make meaningful contributions to projects. That’s what truly counts in tech today.