Your question strikes me, because you&#x27;ve framed &#x27;college&#x27; and &#x27;programming&#x27; in terms of their potential, or lack, of monetary benefits. That&#x27;s an entirely fair way of framing this decision, but not the only one. I would suggest, if you are as capable a programmer as you claim, that you have the unique opportunity to enjoy many benefits of the college experience, without the burden of debt or delayed employment&#x2F;advancement that your peers will face. It really depends on what you think you can gain from an educational environment.<p>For my part, I recently left a career to return to school. I&#x27;m getting a graduate degree after a 10-year gap from my undergrad, and even though I&#x27;m working a job at the same time, it&#x27;s inspiring to be in an academic environment again. Some assignments are tedious, but to share a cafe or a bar with other students who are working through intellectual questions is an experience that is difficult to monetize, and nearly impossible to expect outside the university. There is a reason it is called an &#x27;academic bubble&#x27;, but while many say that scorn, I am inspired by the space that bubble creates.<p>I would suggest that, if you&#x27;re a capable programmer, then don&#x27;t go to college to learn to program. Study topics that seem foreign&#x2F;difficult to you, revel in the leisure time to discuss ideas with your peers, and rise to the challenges set by professors. The academy is intended to be a space for self inquiry and growth. If that is something you value, then try to find a college that feels right to grow with.<p>If nothing else, try applying. As a general rule, you should avoid closing doors on opportunities that don&#x27;t exist. If you get accepted to an institution, then you have a right to decline it, but rejecting it without applying is hubris.