Probably the actual difference is what you are able to retain in your memory. I know that the parts of computer science I learned on my own or while on the job

Probably the actual difference is what you are able to retain in your memory. I know that the parts of computer science I learned on my own or while on the job, are far more sticky than anything I studied in university, even back then Also there's a different in what you think you understand and what you actually understand