Is Going Back to School in My 30s Worth It for an IT Leadership Career?
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MellowPine47
I've worked in IT for about eight years and have been a systems administrator for the past three, recently moving into a senior systems administrator role. My manager has encouraged me to pursue leadership and plans to retire in the next two or three years. He would like to prepare me to eventually become IT Director, possibly by moving me into an IT Manager role first. Our combined infrastructure and development team has about 13 people.
I have no formal degree and have learned everything through experience and self-study. I'm considering certifications such as the CISSP, but my manager also suggested earning a bachelor's degree to strengthen my résumé and build my business and management knowledge. The challenge is that I already work around 40–50 hours per week, have two children involved in sports, and want to preserve some time for family and hobbies. I've always wanted to earn a degree, partly as a personal milestone and partly to check that box professionally.
For those who returned to school in their 30s, was it worthwhile? Are there flexible, reputable online programs that work well for someone with significant IT experience and limited free time?
Answers
The biggest advantage you already have is that your manager trusts you and is giving you a concrete path into leadership. Start building management experience now: budgeting, vendor relationships, project planning, hiring, performance conversations, and communicating with business stakeholders. A degree can strengthen your résumé and fill in business fundamentals, while certifications such as the CISSP may carry more immediate credibility in security-focused roles. Ideally, use work experience, employer funding, and a flexible program together rather than treating school as the only route.
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If you’re in the United States and mainly need the degree requirement checked, Western Governors University is worth researching. It’s fully online, competency-based, and your experience may let you move quickly through some subjects. You can also accelerate if you have enough time during a term. Just confirm that your employer accepts it and look into tuition assistance first.
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For many management jobs, employers care more about having an accredited degree than where it came from, especially when you already have substantial experience and internal support. That said, the value varies by organization. Ask a few hiring managers or leaders in your industry what they expect before choosing a program. If your company supports your promotion without a bachelor’s degree, practical leadership experience may be more valuable right now.
NorthwindLark31: That matches what I’ve seen. Experience and a strong track record open a lot of doors, but some companies still use a degree as an automatic screening requirement.
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Before enrolling, ask your employer about tuition reimbursement and whether the future leadership role actually requires a degree. A flexible program can be useful, but don’t underestimate the workload. Working long hours, raising two children, and studying at the same time can leave you with no recovery time, so make sure your family and schedule can support it.
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MellowPine47: That’s probably the direction I’ll take eventually. I’ve heard good things about the flexibility, but I’m still trying to decide whether I can fit it into my life.