Already a software engineer, degree worth it?

[mahaganapati]

I first want to express my gratitude to all the people here who have shared their time and resources to help those who want to get a degree.

Secondly, this is my existential rambling with little expectation for - but very welcome to - feedback.

I dropped out of a college and spent a lot of time wandering. I settled on a job at a library putting away carts of books. Eventually I worked up to the highest desk staff position that didn't require a degree. From there I was able to get a remote support engineer role for a start up. At that start up I was able to be trained in software development. I left that job to be employed officially as a software engineer for the past five years.

I've been incredibly lucky and blessed, something that I can only thank God for.

And yet the reason I am here on this forum is because I feel I should finish the degree I'd started fifteen years ago, but I also feel torn because I already have a foundation of experience in my career. I don't think I would get a Masters. I don't think the degree would make a strong difference in my career (unless it were MIT maybe? for the networking and prestige). It would address this sinking feeling of "I don't have a degree."


Has anyone else had such deliberation? I do recognize that only I can make this choice for myself.