While having a degree in CS by no means guarantees this, I feel it has made me a better programmer by forcing me to learn theory behind things I would probably

While having a degree in CS by no means guarantees this, I feel it has made me a better programmer by forcing me to learn theory behind things I would probably have otherwise ignored. Not every job needs this understanding, but the lower level you work at, the more you need it. Also, the contacts made can of course be very helpful. That's what got me my current job. These can also be made elsewhere, but it's easy to be surrounded with lots of other CS people when you're in school. However, if you're motivated and a good self-learner starting out, I don't think most places care where you got your knowledge once you've had some real world experience.