I have no doubt a smart individual without a technical degree can, with time, become self-educated to take highly technical roles. A degree, however, can allow

I have no doubt a smart individual without a technical degree can, with time, become self-educated to take highly technical roles. A degree, however, can allow someone to come in at a place a little higher up the ladder with certain skills already in place ever, possibly to rise faster due to having learned how to learn. So much depends upon the individual and on the company they were able to hire into.