Where would you be at 35 without the CS degree? (Score 1)

Well, you're 30 or 31 right now, without a CS degree...and who knows with what work experience. Clearly you're not too thrilled with your prospects down the road if you don't do something. I can't say that a CS degree is the right thing for you. However, let's assume that it is (as opposed to another 4-yr degree or a 2-yr vocational). In which case you're going to be 10-13 years behind the curve, but that's mostly written off already. If you stick it out, struggle through the first few years of entry-level stuff, you'll be intermediate level at the age of 40, and still have decades ahead of you to move up. Pick your mid-career jobs well and you have every chance - depending on your choices and skills - of catching up to or surpassing people who didn't start late. I myself spent my 20's in the military. I didn't get into professional programming until I was 32, and now I'm 47. I'm a consultant, which is where I want to be. I haven't encountered ageism because (1) I have never worked for a coding sweatshop, and (2) I know what I'm doing, and (3) precisely because I am a consultant - serious customers tend to look askance at 20-somethings purporting to have experience. So the short answer is, this won't be a bad choice. It may not be your best choice, but it's not a bad one.