How Can I Become a Programmer Without Going to College?

Around 60% of Web Developers have four-year degrees, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, 68% of Computer Programmers (an umbrella term that includes Web Developers) have four-year degrees.
So can you become a programmer without a college degree? Absolutely.
 3 out of 10 programmers and 4 out of 10 web developers do not have four-year degrees. So while the odds are not as favorable as if you went out and got one, if you don’t already have a degree it’s not worth it just to find out if you like programming.
The things I look for when hiring someone who will work as a developer are (in approximate order of importance):

• 1. Professional Experience
• 2. Certifications
• 3. College Degree 
• 4. Contributions to Open Source Projects 
• 5. Articles/Publications, Speaking Engagements, A Popular Blog 
• 6. Hobby projects

 On a side note, few things are worse than a developer with certifications and no professional experience.
Before you go out and pay a huge amount of money to get certified in a technology you don’t understand, learn to write code. Build your sample project, and then think about contributing to open source projects. Finally, think about getting a certification.
 Depending on the size and nature of your sample project, and on your competition for an entry level position, your sample project may qualify you for the coveted #1 spot given that your competition is not likely to have any of 1-5, either, unless they have a degree.
Although entry-level programmer positions are competitive, I’ve known many good programmers who never went to college, and worked their way into programming through hobby projects, 2-year degrees, or transferring from other areas within IT (such as the help desk). These are also good approaches to think about when plotting your entry into programming.