Actually I was trying to figure that out too and I think it has more to do with the fact the freelancer career has no career promotion levels, but as you complete the freelancer career to the Edge you get a raise and its reset back again, The Degree may add a few level raises or maybe it raises at a faster rate with a degree, I will check into it the next time I play a freelancer. However I believe that does something in the freelancer career just don't know what.
Apparently if you get a degree that is connected to one of the freelancer careers the degree allows you to skip the promotional grinding for a raise and your start the job at the highest performance level. This only effects the freelancer careers and not the work from home careers.
