A Computer Science Degree: Ticket to Your Dream Tech Job or an Overpriced Relic?
For anyone aspiring to break into the tech industry, one of the biggest decisions is whether to pursue a four-year computer science degree. On one hand, a CS degree from a reputable university is still seen as the most established path to a high-paying tech career. But on the other hand, many people have built successful careers in tech without a CS degree. With the rise of coding bootcamps, online courses, and other alternative education options, is a computer science degree still worthwhile?
As someone who has worked as a software engineer and hiring manager, I‘ve seen first-hand how these different education paths can play out in the tech industry. In this article, I‘ll break down the pros and cons of getting a CS degree versus alternative paths like self-teaching or bootcamps. We‘ll look at employment stats, typical salaries, and the skills that matter most to employers. By the end, you‘ll have a clearer picture of which option might be best for you.
What You Actually Learn in a Computer Science Program
To understand the value of a CS degree, let‘s look at what you actually learn in a typical four-year computer science program. Most CS curricula aim to give students a foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of computing. Here‘s a rough breakdown of what you can expect:
- 20% Intro to Programming: Learning the basics of coding, usually in languages like Python or Java
- 25% Math and Theory: Discrete math, algorithms, data structures, computability theory, etc.
- 10% Low-Level Programming: Assembly language, memory management, threading, etc.
- 15% Software Engineering: The software development lifecycle, testing, working in teams, etc.
- 10% Operating Systems and Networking: Learning how computers and networks work under the hood
- 20% Advanced Electives: Specialized topics like AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, game dev, etc.
As you can see, traditional CS programs tend to focus more on fundamental principles and theory rather than the latest technologies and frameworks. The goal is to equip students with a broad base of knowledge that allows them to pick up new languages and tools quickly rather than getting pigeonholed into one area. Having a good grasp of algorithms and data structures, for example, is something that will serve you throughout your career regardless of what specific technology you end up working with.
However, this broad curriculum also means that you likely won‘t graduate ready to be productive on day one at a tech job. Many CS grads find they still have to learn the specific tools, frameworks, and best practices used in industry. There‘s a reason that the stereotype of a CS grad who can invert a binary tree but can‘t center a div exists.
Career Prospects for CS Grads: Employment and Salary Data
Complaints about CS curricula aside, the employment numbers for computer science graduates are quite strong. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, computer science has one of the highest employment rates, with 68.7% of 2019 grads employed full-time within six months of graduation. For comparison, here are the employment rates for some other common majors:
| Major | Employment Rate |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | 68.7% |
| Engineering | 71.8% |
| Math & Statistics | 61.0% |
| Business | 59.0% |
| Social Sciences | 53.6% |
| Humanities | 48.3% |
| All Majors (Average) | 58.0% |
As you can see, computer science grads fare quite well, with an employment rate over 10 percentage points higher than the overall average.
CS grads also command some of the highest starting salaries. According to NACE‘s 2019 Salary Survey, the average starting salary for computer science majors was $76,986. Again, here‘s how that compares to some other fields:
| Major | Average Starting Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $76,986 |
| Engineering | $77,330 |
| Math & Statistics | $73,758 |
| Business | $57,939 |
| Social Sciences | $50,099 |
| Humanities | $48,961 |
| All Majors (Average) | $55,280 |
Computer science comes in just slightly behind engineering, and well ahead of any of the other majors. Of course, salaries vary a lot depending on role, company, location, and other factors. But computer science grads, on average, have some of the best salary prospects right out of college.
The tech job market also shows no signs of slowing down. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer and IT occupations will grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. And these projections were made before the pandemic dramatically accelerated the shift to digital across industries.
The High Cost of a CS Degree
While the career prospects for computer science grads are bright, the cost of getting a CS degree is a huge consideration. Tuition at both public and private universities has been rising much faster than inflation for decades. Here‘s what average annual tuition and fees look like for the 2020-2021 school year:
| Type of University | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Public 4-Year | $10,560 | $27,020 |
| Private Non-Profit 4-Year | $37,650 | N/A |
So the total tuition cost of a four-year CS degree could range anywhere from around $40,000 to over $150,000 depending on the type of school you attend and whether you‘re eligible for in-state tuition. And that doesn‘t even include room and board, textbooks, or any other expenses.
Most CS students don‘t have that kind of cash lying around, so they end up taking out loans. In fact, around 70% of students now graduate with student loan debt, with an average debt of $37,584 at public universities and $32,086 at private universities. Devoting a big chunk of your paycheck to student loan bills can really eat into the high starting salaries that we talked about.
There‘s also the opportunity cost to consider. Instead of spending four years in school, you could be out in the workforce gaining real-world experience and earning money. Or you could be using that time and tuition money to pursue other kinds of education like bootcamps or online courses.
This is an especially big consideration in the fast-moving tech industry, where experience and practical skills often matter more than degrees (more on this later). It‘s possible that in the four years it takes to complete a CS degree, the hot technologies and frameworks will have completely changed.
Alternative Education Paths: Bootcamps, Online Courses, and More
Luckily, a four-year computer science degree is far from the only path into a tech career these days. The rise of coding bootcamps and massive open online courses (MOOCs) has made tech education more accessible and affordable than ever before. Let‘s look at a few of the most popular options:
Coding Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps are short-term, intensive programs that aim to get students job-ready in 3-6 months. Most bootcamps focus on practical, in-demand skills like full-stack web development, data science, cybersecurity, or UX/UI design.
Tuition at coding bootcamps is significantly less than a four-year degree, with most programs costing between $10,000 to $20,000 (although some go as high as $30,000). Many bootcamps also offer income share agreements (ISAs), deferred tuition, or loan financing options to make them more accessible.
While bootcamps don‘t go into the same depth as a CS degree program, they can be a faster and less expensive way to gain tech skills and break into the industry. Course Report‘s 2020 Coding Bootcamp Alumni Outcomes & Demographics Report found strong career outcomes for bootcamp grads:
- The average salary boost for bootcamp grads was 56% or $25,000
- The median salary for bootcamp grads was $69,900
- 79% of graduates found jobs requiring the skills they learned at bootcamp
- 84% of graduates reported being satisfied with their bootcamp experience and career outcomes
Of course, it‘s important to do your research and find a reputable bootcamp. Look for bootcamps with a proven track record, transparent job placement data, and partnerships with employers. Read reviews, ask to talk to alumni, and make sure the curriculum aligns with your goals.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Another option that has exploded in the last decade is massive open online courses (MOOCs). These are online courses, often taught by professors from top universities, that anyone can take (usually for free or a small fee). Some of the most popular MOOC platforms for computer science and programming include:
- Coursera
- edX
- Udacity
- Khan Academy
- freeCodeCamp
These platforms offer a huge range of courses on computer science topics, from beginner-friendly intros to programming to advanced courses on machine learning, cybersecurity, and more. You can learn at your own pace and on your own schedule from anywhere in the world.
While free online courses usually don‘t come with the kind of personalized instruction or career support that you‘d get from a bootcamp or degree program, they can be a flexible and affordable way to build your skills and create a portfolio of projects. Some platforms like Coursera and edX also offer paid certificate programs and even fully online masters degrees.
Self-Teaching
Of course, you don‘t need a formal program at all to learn computer science and programming skills. If you‘re self-motivated and good at finding resources, it‘s very possible to teach yourself. Some of the best ways to learn on your own include:
- Books and documentation
- Online tutorials and resources
- Building your own projects
- Contributing to open source
- Competing in coding challenges like Advent of Code or Project Euler
The upside of self-teaching is that it‘s usually the cheapest option and you have total control over what you learn. The main downside is that you won‘t have anyone to guide you, answer questions, or keep you accountable. It can be easy to get stuck or lose motivation.
If you do decide to go the self-taught route, I highly recommend finding a community to learn with, whether online or in-person. This could be through local meetups, online forums, open source projects, or social media. Surrounding yourself with others who are learning and building cool things is one of the best ways to stay motivated and make rapid progress.
What Employers Really Care About
At the end of the day, what tech employers care most about is whether you can do the job and work well with the rest of the team. A computer science degree can be a great signal of your knowledge and potential, but it‘s far from the only thing that matters.
Stack Overflow‘s 2020 Developer Survey asked over 64,000 developers what they think employers care about when hiring. The top 5 answers were:
- Previous industry experience (48%)
- Years of experience (45%)
- Personal projects (37%)
- Degree subject/major (27%)
- Programming languages known (25%)
Notably, having an impressive degree or attending a top school ranked all the way down at #12 on the list of priorities. This isn‘t to say that a CS degree has no impact on hiring, but clearly experience, skills, and projects are seen as more important by most developers.
Another study by tech interview platform Triplebyte found that bootcamp grads actually performed better than CS grads (and self-taught developers) on practical programming challenges. And a survey of tech recruiters by HackerRank found that 72% would consider hiring a bootcamp grad for an open role.
Speaking from my own experience both as a hiring manager and an interviewee, the things that have always stood out to me the most are:
- Technical skills: Can you solve problems, write clean code, and explain your thought process?
- Communication skills: Can you collaborate with others and communicate your ideas clearly?
- Intellectual curiosity: Are you always learning and staying on top of new technologies?
- Passion for the product/mission: Do you care about what we‘re building and why?
Notice that none of those are about having a specific degree or credential. While a CS degree is still a valuable signal, employers are increasingly looking at the whole package of a candidate‘s skills, knowledge, and experience.
So if you don‘t have a CS degree, don‘t let that stop you from pursuing a career in tech. Focus on building your skills, working on interesting projects, and connecting with others in the field. You can absolutely get a job and build a successful career in tech without a CS degree if you‘re willing to put in the work to learn and prove yourself.
Making Your Decision
So what‘s the verdict — is a computer science degree worth it? As with most big decisions, there‘s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your unique circumstances, goals, and learning style. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Do you thrive in a structured academic environment or prefer to learn at your own pace?
- Are you interested in CS theory and research or just want to learn practical job skills?
- Is the cost and time commitment of a four-year degree feasible for you?
- How important is it to you to have a credential from an established university?
- Are you excited to learn a variety of CS topics or do you want a more focused curriculum?
- Do you want the traditional "college experience" or prefer a fully online/remote option?
- How quickly do you want to start working in tech?
If you‘re someone who values the structure, credibility, and breadth of knowledge that comes with a traditional four-year computer science degree and you have the means to pursue it, then a CS degree may be a great option for you.
On the other hand, if you‘re more interested in learning specific practical skills to get a job in tech as quickly as possible, you‘re on a tighter budget, or you simply learn better in a more hands-on or self-directed environment, then an alternative path like a coding bootcamp or self-teaching may be a better fit.
Regardless of which path you choose, the most important thing is that you‘re continuously learning and building your skills. The field of technology changes rapidly, so it‘s essential to stay curious and keep up with new developments.
You can absolutely have a successful and fulfilling career in tech with or without a computer science degree. It‘s up to you to decide which path makes the most sense for your goals and circumstances. Don‘t let anyone tell you that there‘s only one "right" way to get into tech – there are many valid paths, and the most important thing is that you find the one that works best for you.