At the point that the person already has years of work experience and demonstrable skill in the field, some would say the degree is arguably more "personal feel

At the point that the person already has years of work experience and demonstrable skill in the field, some would say the degree is arguably more "personal feel good" and/or vain attempt to avoid being discriminated against by "snobs". I say "vain attempt", because if you don't check the right boxes, the person is likely to get snubbed anyway. If you talk to many recruiters, depending on the field, the older person's work, supervisorial/managerial experience, and any references can be much more of the deciding factor. Don't get me wrong, degrees and certifications are very nice decorations, but there is no getting around who you know and doing well on the interview. That a working adult who has already established themselves professionally gets the degree in their later years, can be more about personal pride and dedication to their field, to make sure there isn't any gaps in their knowledge. And perhaps that's where the emphasis should be, showing personal growth and development. Someone taking the time to become better at what they do.