TLDR: The answer is no you don’t but you probably should.  

The real question you should ask is if it’s worth your time and money to get a degree. And that depends mostly on you and possibly your circumstances. For example if you have already taken a few college courses. And can then transfer those credits to a low cost school to help you finish your degree in a semester then absolutely getting a degree would be worth it. But I would argue that if you’re serious about starting a new career in IT or cybersecurity that getting a degree would still be worth it no matter what. Even if it’s just an associates degree. Now, We typically think of an associates degree as taking 2 years to accomplish but fortunately there are a lot of ways you can get this done a lot faster depending on how much time you have and how well you study. (And by the way If you need study tips you can check out some of my other content on studying techniques and finding out what works for you.) Now you might be the type of person that hates studying and taking tests. But really most people feel that way so you’re not alone. You shouldn’t let that feeling stop you from pursuing a career in IT. Instead you should find a way to overcome that feeling at least for the short amount of time required to get your degree or certifications. You should know by now that the IT profession does heavily rely on certifications to show you are qualified to perform your job. And a lot of those certifications can take 6 months or more of studying. So in a way getting your degree is similar to getting a certification. In fact, I would not recommend taking any longer than 6 months to a year to get your degree. Any longer than that  just wouldn’t be worth your time. What I mean is that in a year you could have already gotten one or two certifications and started a job in tech. Well wait a minute. You might be thinking that sounds great. Why don’t I just do that instead of going to college? Well there are a few reasons why I recommend getting a degree first.

1. It can be relatively inexpensive. I know almost everybody equates college with expensive. Going to college nowadays though is a lot cheaper than it used to be. It may be hard to believe but there are some online colleges that are relatively inexpensive. A good example would be Western Governors University (WGU). They charge per semester rather than per class and their semesters are 6 months long. Meaning if you work hard enough you could finish all your classes within 6 months to a year. On top of this they accept a lot of transfer credits. This includes credits generated from your military experience and training. I did this when I got my online degree from American Military University (AMU) so I know how helpful that can be. On top of this there are grants and deferred loans you can take advantage of to help pay for living expenses while you go to school. Even if you have a full time job. Plus when tax time comes you get special tax credits for going to school. So financially it can make sense especially if you plan to make a lot more money in the future. With a tech career that is a pretty safe bet. Think of it as an investment in yourself.
2. It will help prepare you for your certifications. Many of the college courses you take may not have anything to do with what you will be doing in your future job, but they do help in other ways. College teaches communication, problem solving and following directions which are all an important part of any job. But besides the core classes, you will take courses that will have a direct correlation to professional certifications. In fact many of WGU’s courses directly correlate to a certification and allow you to take the certification exam for free after you pass your class. So in a way it can save you time and money to do these courses before you get your certification rather than later on in your career after you’ve already gotten them.
3. It will increase your earning potential. In general, individuals with a college degree earn more than those without. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings for someone with a bachelor’s degree is about $1,400, while someone with only a high school diploma earns about $750. While certifications like Security+ can boost your earning potential, statistically a college degree is still seen as a more valuable investment.
4. It will make finding a job so much easier. Unfortunately there are many job postings that list a college degree as a requirement. It’s true that many entry level tech jobs shouldn’t require a degree as long as you are capable and qualified. However a lot of companies are still stuck in the past and don’t feel like paying a high salary to someone who never completed college. These companies usually will only pull the resumes with college diplomas listed and only pull the rest when they start getting desperate. Which happens plenty of times but in the end you will still get a lot more call backs with a degree. Fortunately there are a broad range of degrees that can help you get your foot in the door. You don’t need to pursue a highly technical degree. Majors like business administration, technical management and even communications can all help you get past the HR filters without requiring a ton of technical knowledge.

In summary, a college degree is not necessarily required to get a job in tech or IT, but it can make finding a job easier and increase your earning potential. The decision of whether to pursue a degree or not depends on individual circumstances. For example, if you have already taken some college courses that can transfer to a low-cost school to help you finish your degree in a short amount of time, getting a degree may be worth it. However, even if you are starting from scratch, getting an associate’s degree in IT or cybersecurity can still be beneficial, as it can be completed relatively quickly and can help prepare you for certifications.

In addition to the financial benefits of obtaining a degree, it can also help you stand out to potential employers who may require a degree for certain positions. While some entry-level tech jobs may not require a degree, many job postings still list a degree as a requirement. Pursuing a degree can also provide you with valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and following directions, which are important in any job.

Overall, while a degree is not absolutely necessary to get a job in tech or IT, it can provide numerous benefits and increase your chances of finding a job and earning a higher salary. Considering the relatively low cost of obtaining a degree at some online universities, it may be a wise investment in your future.