Does having a degree really matter? The answer is that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. We all know people who didn't finish high school, but are making a nice 5-figure income because they learned a trade or they learned to work with computers at an early age. They worked their way up in their industry and no one ever cared whether they had a degree or not.

That path is not as common as it once was, though. Part of the reason is that there is more paperwork involved even in trade jobs, so it pays to have proven you can jump through the hoops of earning a degree, sometimes any degree, so that the employer feels they can count on you to meet the requirements for the paperwork your job requires. In these cases, a technical degree or a 2-year degree from a junior college can meet the requirements quite well.

In other cases, you will need a degree in anything to get the job you're after. Sometimes there is no specific training for the job you want. The employer knows that they are going to have to train you themselves. But given that, they want some evidence that you are trainable, that you are willing to learn and that you have what it takes to stick with a program and finish it. Having a degree shows them just that.

Then there are professions that require not only the undergraduate degree, but also some post graduate work or degree in the specialization you wish to pursue. Doctors, lawyers, counselors, chiropractors, and many other professions require that you complete a master's or a doctorate relating to your chosen profession. Sometimes that is a very specific requirement, such as law school or medical school, but other times, any graduate degree shows your skill in the general field and the employer plans to train you to meet their needs.