Software development is one of the areas where academic qualifications are often not held, or are poorly held, by some of the best candidates. I spent a few years interviewing candidates for software development positions, at the time being in a senior such position myself. Qualifications meant nothing to me, the experience and passion of the candidates was far more than important.
There are some industries where the kind of person you want will often not be traditionally academically minded. Those kids who stayed in their parents basements perfecting their hobby programs instead of studying in history class and going to uni? They can probably out-code most graduates, and with only a little moulding will accelerate way past them in no time in the workplace.