The short answer
The answer depends on what field you want to enter and what employers in that field actually look for. Research shows that outcomes vary a lot by program and industry. Figure out where you want to land, then work backward to see which path gets you there.
Here's what the research actually shows: not all credentials pay off the same way. Outcomes depend heavily on the field you're entering and how well your training matches what employers want. A degree in one area can open doors that a bootcamp won't — and in other areas, the reverse is true. There's no single right answer because the job market doesn't treat all programs equally.
Marcus Aurelius wrote that we're made for one another — to teach or to bear with each other. That's a quiet reminder that your goal isn't to collect credentials. It's to become useful to others in a specific way. The credential is just a signal. What matters is whether it sends the right signal to the right people in the field you're aiming for.
This week, pick three job listings for the exact role you want. Look at what they require. Do they ask for a degree, a specific skill set, a portfolio, or a certification? That tells you more than any general advice about education. Once you see a pattern in those listings, you'll know which path is actually pointing toward your goal.