After 3 years of working with web design and 6 years with development, I'm pursuing a Masters in Computer Science. My BS degree is in another field, so I always stood for the idea that the degree was not important. However, now I see great advantages in a combination of experience and study.
Here are the advantages that I've seen so far:
-
Grad school forces you to understand the problems
Learning from your experience is good, because it's harder to forget something you've been through, but school forces you to think about the reasons and understand the trade-offs (not only say "I know this is gonna work"). -
Grad school gives you a different mindset
I've been to classes that I took for granted in the beginning because I thought they didn't have anything to add to my work experience, but even those classes made me think about the problems with a different perspective. -
Going back to school makes you avid to learn more
You have to do a lot of research in grad school and you make that a habit for other answers you are looking for. Going to grad school also made me curious about other languages that I never considered learning before and removed me from a comfortable state that I've settled in my career. -
Previously accumulated experience helps you to understand what you learn
I had a Software Engineering class that there was no way I could understand without any experience on the field. The thing was incredibly abstract and if I didn't have the examples in my mind to combine with the theory, I'm sure I would forget all that talk in less then a year. The class helped me to understand why projects failed and that for me was invaluable (even though it will not show off in my resume).
I can think of only one disadvantage that is your life can be a hell trying to combine work and study.
The achievements of pursuing a master's degree are mostly personal. In my case, it also helped me professionally but that's a story for some other time. But in conclusion, I can't see how learning could possibly close any doors.