In my previous inquiries along these lines, it seems that the consensus is that pursuing a math degree for a career pivot is not worthwhile. I would love to add the credential to my CV because math is the first thing I've felt strongly enough about to study on my own diligently, but education in the US is so expensive I can't afford to do it for my enjoyment or vanity alone.
I started reviewing on my own prior to getting this response, but I don't want to waste my time if it would be better spent working on something I don't enjoy as much but would be more beneficial. I have a background/degree in tech (cybersecurity) but the idea of understanding the underlying math and applying it is more appealing than chasing flavor-of-the-month technologies. While I know one can study math in a hobbyist capacity, I feel like if I could tie it to my career, I would have the drive to really push myself forward in a way I haven't felt otherwise. I like that it is an infinitely deep field that only requires that you approach it with humility, apply yourself and practice as much as you can; moreover that you can get very far using only a pencil and paper.
In tech you can pursue certifications and your own projects to prove your knowledge/passion, but that I know of, there's not an equivalent for that with math. I'm wondering how people who have purely self-studied have successfully integrated math into their professional life without a degree to back them up, or if it's even possible in the first place.