I am also a 40 something IT pro. Although I have an Assiciates degree from when I was in the Air Force, I do not have a Bachelors. I see even the most menial jobs advertised requiring a Bachelors degree. Companies want cheap labor even though it might mean hiring 3 to do the work on 1 real pro. When I see companies saying they cannot find good help, I laugh. I cannot count the times I have interviewed and not got the job because someone was willing to do it cheaper. Well, you get what you pay for.