Can I get a job without a degree in programming?
If you’re thinking about learning to code, you’ve probably asked yourself: Do I need a college degree to get a job? In this article, I’ll tell you the reality and share my honest experience, especially if you’re starting from scratch.
What does a university degree in programming offer?
If you’re not in a hurry and are planning a long-term path, this is a good option since universities or similar institutions often have many partnerships and offer benefits such as:
A recognized degree
Solid theoretical training
Access to networking and internships
Most large companies (Google, Amazon, Meta, Netflix, etc.) require a degree — whether for bureaucratic reasons or because they want to filter candidates with a specific profile. You’d need to have done something truly outstanding for them to consider you without one.
On the educational side, many universities — because their programs are long and their instructors often belong to older generations — may teach outdated material that’s no longer relevant. The tech world moves much faster than universities can update their curricula. So often (if not always), you’ll need to take additional courses elsewhere to fill in the gaps.
That said, universities do focus heavily on the fundamentals, which rarely change. Much of today’s software infrastructure is built on these foundations, which are often universal: things like control flow, variables, arrays, etc. These are the “universal laws” in the programs we build today.
As for networking, it’s one of the biggest advantages — especially if the university offers in-person classes. You have more time to build closer, long-lasting relationships. It’s also easier to connect with people face-to-face than over a Teams call where nobody turns on their camera 😅.
What can you achieve without a university degree in tech?
Education and the way we learn have evolved tremendously in recent years — the information age can be overwhelming 😬. That’s why doing prior research is essential. If you can get advice and save money in the future, even better. We can break this down into three points:
Success stories of self-taught programmers
Bootcamps, online courses, personal projects
Companies that don’t require a degree
There are many success stories of people who didn’t go to — or even dropped out of — university to start tech companies: Bill Gates left Harvard to found Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg also left Harvard to dedicate himself fully to Facebook, and Steve Jobs dropped out of Reed College after one semester. But be careful ⛔ — these are exceptional individuals, not the norm. It’s not good to generalize from rare cases. What’s clear, though, is that what matters most isn’t finishing university, but the knowledge you gain and what you do with it.
In my case, I studied in a web development bootcamp that was supposed to last 10 months, but I left after month four to look for a job. I felt there was too much to process and that what I had learned was enough to enter the job market. It turned out to be an excellent decision — I worked as a freelancer for about four months, applied to various companies, and eventually one of them hired me as a front-end developer in the email department.
Now, let’s talk about other alternatives. Bootcamps are a good option if you lack discipline and prefer something more structured and well-defined. However, they’re expensive — very expensive — especially considering the price-to-duration ratio. The bootcamp I attended cost $15,000 😑, and I was only there for four months. Later, I found out there are free bootcamp alternatives like Open Bootcamp. (This isn’t a sponsored mention — just a personal recommendation.) There are probably others out there, but that’s the one I know. It’s up to each person to research and get proper advice before investing time and money.
Many companies don’t require a degree — they care mainly about experience. You’ll often see job postings that say “degree or equivalent experience.” The problem is when you don’t have experience. This could be a whole blog topic in itself, but the truth is there’s still a lot of bureaucracy, and many companies haven’t caught up with the idea that experience isn’t the same as knowledge. Experience doesn’t just mean formal employment — you can gain it by doing projects with friends or peers.
Here’s a slightly controversial point, but briefly: many people lie about their experience. Yes — they just lie. This causes problems for those of us who play fair because it creates an unfair disadvantage. The responsibility falls entirely on the company to verify that information. So, if you’re applying somewhere, make sure it’s a well-established company — otherwise, you might end up working with people who have no idea what they’re doing and got in by lying just for money.
Personally, the company that gave me my first opportunity in programming didn’t require a degree, but since I had certifications from my four months in the bootcamp, they considered that and chose me over another candidate. So my humble advice is: have something that certifies your knowledge in a given technology. During the technical interview, they’ll be able to confirm whether it’s true.
If you can’t afford paid courses, you can still prove your knowledge through a portfolio — something the recruiter can see to understand what you can do and how you could contribute to the company.
Conclusion
If you want to learn quickly and start working in the short or medium term, the best option is to study on your own — through courses, bootcamps, FreeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, CS50, etc. Join Discord communities or other online groups where you can ask questions and interact with other programmers.
If you prefer to learn at a slower pace, enjoy research, want strong academic foundations, and value long-term networking, university remains a good option.
If you still have doubts or want to discuss something not covered in this post, you can book a personalized consultation with me where I’ll analyze your profile. I can’t promise you’ll get a job — just as no university or educational institution can — but I can assure you that you’ll have a much clearer path and better tools to face the challenges that will surely come your way.
