Do you need a degree to be a developer?
That depends to some part what kind of developer you want to be, but the general answer is no, there is no need for a degree. There are so many great developers out there that did not learn it at the university. It is not a waste of time, but it is also not the best way to spend years of your life if you can do without. A lot of time is spent on formalities and general knowledge instead of spending your time on actually improving in a specific field.