Let me start by being blunt, and maybe a touch confrontational. I don’t believe a degree is necessary to thrive as a designer or developer and in many cases is a waste of time and money. Skills like design principles, coding, software knowledge, and UI/UX techniques can all be learned online. Free resources are everywhere, and the tools to grow are often just a search away.

But here’s the thing: being a great designer or developer isn’t just about technical skills. It’s about being able to work as a team with people you didn’t choose, take direction and criticism without defensiveness, show up consistently, and commit to something and see it through. Those qualities matter as much, if not more, than knowing the latest design trends or coding frameworks.

College can be a valid way to gain that experience. It puts you in an environment where you’re forced to collaborate, meet deadlines, and deal with challenges. But it’s certainly not the only way. If you can build those skills through internships, freelancing, or personal projects, you can bypass the traditional degree path entirely. Most of the work your employer is going to care about will not be a class project. They will care about what you created outside of school.

Here’s the hard truth: the cost of degrees has gone up, while their value has gone down. Outside of a few professions like medicine or law, it’s becoming harder to justify the time and money spent on a degree. That said, there’s a caveat. If the alternative to college is living at home and playing video games, then by all means, go to school. You’re clearly not ready to grow up yet, and maybe that’s okay.

I did get a BFA degree in 3D Animation, and it helped me make some initial connections and build a solid art and design foundation. It was worth the time and money for me. That said, my brother, the co-founder of Forever Forward, didn’t get a degree at all, and he’s done just as well, if not better in his career.

For my own kids, I imagine only one of them will pursue a degree, and I fully support that. The goal isn’t to get a diploma. The goal is to grow into a person who is capable, dependable, and skilled. Whether you get that through college or through alternative paths is less important than whether you’re actually learning the hard and soft skills needed to succeed. Knowledge is no longer power. AI, Google, the internet, and our phones have brought raw knowledge to the masses. It’s applied knowledge that makes a difference.

At the end of the day, your ability to thrive comes down to the effort you put in and the relationships you build. Degrees can open doors, but it’s your work ethic, curiosity, and willingness to grow that will carry you through those doors and beyond.