Oh well, I guess a degree isn't everything
No, it isn't. This is just my personal opinion, but I don't put much stock in degrees in creative writing. There are a lot of things one can teach -- discipline, some technique, a lot of what
not to do -- but storytelling is so much more than the ability to put words together to create images. Style and voice are not things that are usually taught; they come from within, and some people are more naturally adept at it than others. Voracious reading of literature; writing
every damn day whether you feel like it or not; going through rigorous editorial screening; reading literature; performing your work in front of an audience; having a natural eye for detail, local color, personalities, manners of speaking; maybe reading some more... These are what go into being a professional writer. Some folks are fortunate to start out early with a natural voice; others develop it over a long period of time. While I never frown on furthering one's education in an academic institution, there's no teacher like experience. Learning to
edit is as important as being able to write. Not every word is golden. Sometimes you have to toss out a lot of dross to get to the bits that work.
All IMHO opinion, of course. Having been in the business for a while.