I am a self taught programmer with ten years experience in frontend development and html/css. I am now focusing on the full stack and seeking a junior full stack position.
Over the years I've had employers, turn round and tell me that I didn't have xyz qualification to get where I wanted to. Or others telling me that I couldn't be both frontend and backend, I had to specialise in one.
I could of gone to university and been certified in BSC computer science or programming but by the time I would of come out I would of been pretty much outdated in technology and this is a big thing that I've found that there is almost no point to go to a university or college for. The technology moves forward so fast.
I moved from logistics, settled down and started to retrain in web development again no official certifications and now i'm at the position to hopefully get a junior full stack role. If anyone is considering uni, I would say save your money and put it on Books and Elearning materials from O'Reily, some programmers start from nothing get to being a professional within a year, one year compared to 4-8 years uni? I know what I would stick with.
In the end, no matter what people tell you, as long as its your goal to become what ever you want, keep pursuing and you'll get it providing you put the work into it. e.g Full stack role (didn't exist 15 years ago!) but it does today and that's what I shall conquer!