Understanding the Value of a CS Degree
If you're debating about whether you should pursue a degree in computer science, there are several major things to consider.
Getting a Job With Computer Science
Having a degree in computer science will definitely offer you some sort of job security, granted you are looking and applying to the right places. However, computer science itself will not teach you how to be the best and most valuable programmer out there. If you want to excel in your field, you had better have the self-initiative, talent, and love for programming to actually learn how to use and apply various languages. Many CS majors end up scratching their heads and pondering the usefulness of all the theoretical and extra classes they had taken that did not end up with any direct applicable use to their actual day-to-day occupations. Others will wonder why they spent four years in a degree program when they could have actually been coding for four years instead of studying for those other classes.
While some may contend that you can provide proof of your programming ability without that lucrative "CS B.S.," it would be tough to beat out another candidate who does have a degree and can program just as well as you can. But, if you can actually prove your unparalleled programming capability without having a degree, then you may be able to make your case or be self-sufficient enough not to have to work for someone else.
You may naturally think to the case of Bill Gates, who did not complete his degree from Harvard. In the long run, it would be hard to argue that he would have been much more successful if he had persevered in finishing his degree. Yet, as Malcolm Gladwell argued in his novel Outliers, Bill Gates was a product of a different time and under special circumstances that were not applicable to the rest of his peers; he had ample access to computers as a teenager during a time when many others did not. Simply put, Gates was born with a combination of good timing, resources, and talent. Not everyone can be like Bill Gates -- it is up to your discretion if you would like to risk the non-degree path.
A degree in computer science, at least, will provide some stability and certification that you know how to program, even if you may not have actually completed any extensive projects. It can be likened to a status or brand name recognition. So, unless you're a rabid self-starter who already has a list of relevant work, having the degree will more than likely benefit you.
The Love for Programming
You might also want to consider how much you actually like programming before you sign up for your degree. Programming isn't for everyone -- you might not want to stare at a computer screen for the majority of your day. If you're doing CS just for the job stability and money, carefully consider other options that you may find more enjoyable that will result in a comparable salary.