How does a failed degree look?

[gremcint]

so I'm reaching a decision point in a couple weeks. Without going into why I think I may need to say enough is enough and give up on my masters. The issue is I've spent 4 years on it, how does this look on a resume. In an interview I can tell the truth and say that after I spent most of a year taking care of my ill father I had to reprioritize and I reached a point where the degree wasn't financially viable anymore. However I've got to get to that interview.

I've got a bachelor's in computer science and a programming diploma before that, I worked 2 years as a teaching assistant during the masters and have held a retail job selling computers for 6 years.

There is a second bachelor's from a for profit technical school years ago that I may not even mention because it's a decade old and I don't have those skills in practice anymore.

[mjr]

so I'm reaching a decision point in a couple weeks. Without going into why I think I may need to say enough is enough and give up on my masters. The issue is I've spent 4 years on it, how does this look on a resume. In an interview I can tell the truth and say that after I spent most of a year taking care of my ill father I had to reprioritize and I reached a point where the degree wasn't financially viable anymore. However I've got to get to that interview.

I've got a bachelor's in computer science and a programming diploma before that, I worked 2 years as a teaching assistant during the masters and have held a retail job selling computers for 6 years.

There is a second bachelor's from a for profit technical school years ago that I may not even mention because it's a decade old and I don't have those skills in practice anymore.

I think I'd just stick with the degree you do have, and then say that you've "continued learning" beyond your current degree. If they ask, just say that you took graduate-level classes to enhance your knowledge.

Or don't say anything beyond the BSCS at all.

[It's me]

Failed and incomplete are two different things!

Going with mjr's suggestion... leaving off the Masters completely may be okay if you can cover the gap in your resume. Otherwise I you could put in on listing the dates as end date as "in progress". There's nothing (at least in theory) stopping you from continuing on part time or in the future. You could also just list the years with the notation "Incomplete". You might want to ask over at ASKAMANAGER.ORG -- there is a Friday open session you can post to.