A Free Accredited Bachelor‘s Degree in Computer Science – How Do We Get There?
The field of computer science and software development is booming. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 22% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for software developers was $110,140 in May 2020.
However, despite the strong demand and attractive salaries, getting the required education to enter this field remains out of reach for many. The average annual tuition and fees at a four-year private college in the U.S. is now $35,852, according to College Board. For public four-year colleges, it‘s $10,338 for in-state students and $22,698 for out-of-state students.
Over four years, that adds up to over $100,000 for a private university education or over $40,000 for in-state public university (and that‘s not including room & board, textbooks, lost wages, etc). For lower-income individuals and working adults with families to support, taking on that level of debt is often untenable.
Yet most software developer positions still require at least a bachelor‘s degree. A 2018 HackerRank survey of 1,000 tech recruiters found that 85% said that computer science degree graduates were either "very prepared" or "somewhat prepared" for a software engineering job, compared to only 15% for coding bootcamp graduates.
Source: HackerRank
Degrees are also necessary for many tech jobs abroad, as most countries require a bachelor‘s degree to be eligible for a work visa. For social mobility and access to the highest-paying opportunities, an accredited computer science degree is still the gold standard.
So how can we make this powerful credential more accessible to anyone with the aptitude and drive to earn it, regardless of their financial constraints or work/family obligations?
I believe the solution is a free, self-paced, fully-online accredited bachelor‘s degree in computer science. One that matches the breadth, depth and rigor of top university computer science programs. One that busy working adults can complete on their own timeline, from anywhere in the world, without taking on life-altering debt.
It would be an ambitious, years-long project requiring millions in funding. But it‘s a challenge I believe is well worth undertaking. Here‘s how I envision it coming together:
Expand freeCodeCamp‘s Proven Curriculum
Over the past 7 years, freeCodeCamp has built an extensive library of online coding and computer science courses. To date, more than 40,000 of our alumni have gotten jobs as software engineers after using our learning resources, which are all completely free.
Our curriculum currently includes 3,000 hours of coursework covering fundamentals like HTML/CSS, JavaScript, data structures and algorithms, as well as specialized topics like machine learning and information security. Experienced software engineers can complete our curriculum in about a year with full-time study.
To expand to a full bachelor‘s degree program, we‘ll need to approximately double our curriculum. We‘ll add more advanced computer science topics like:
- Operating systems
- Computer architecture
- Programming language theory
- Compilers
- Distributed systems
We‘ll also include more theoretical topics to give students a well-rounded computer science foundation:
- Discrete mathematics
- Calculus
- Linear algebra
- Probability and statistics
- Theory of computation
- Algorithms and computational complexity
Alongside the core computer science coursework, we‘ll develop more optional courses on in-demand and emerging technologies to prepare students for the job market:
- Blockchain development
- Internet of things
- Augmented and virtual reality
- Quantum computing
Our curriculum will be designed with input from academics and industry professionals to ensure it aligns with computer science accreditation criteria and equips students with the most marketable skills. And of course, it will all be available online at no cost.
The Accreditation Challenge
For our computer science degree to be recognized and respected by employers, it will need to be properly accredited. In the U.S., the accreditation process is overseen by private agencies recognized by the Department of Education.
For computer science programs, the main accrediting body is ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). ABET accreditation is voluntary, but many top universities choose to pursue it to validate the quality and rigor of their programs.
There are two potential paths for freeCodeCamp to offer an accredited computer science degree:
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Partner with an accredited university that would review our curriculum and grant degrees to students who complete it. The university would handle admissions, advising, accreditation compliance, and all the other administrative functions of running a degree program. freeCodeCamp would focus solely on developing and teaching the curriculum.
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Seek ABET accreditation for freeCodeCamp as an independent institution. This would likely require establishing physical locations for proctored exams, labs, etc. to meet ABET‘s accreditation criteria. We would also need to invest heavily in administrative staff for tasks like admissions, financial aid, career services, and so on.
Both options have their pros and cons. Partnering would be quicker and less costly, but we would have less control over the program. Seeking our own accreditation would give us full autonomy, but would be a much longer and more resource-intensive process.
Either way, accreditation will be a major challenge. My research suggests only about 15% of applications for initial ABET accreditation are approved on the first try. Schools often spend hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing for ABET evaluations.
But I believe it‘s a challenge worth tackling. We‘ll seek guidance from university administrators who have shepherded programs through ABET accreditation before. We‘ll hire experienced academics and compliance experts to guide us. If we commit to the long haul, I‘m confident we can make it happen.
Self-Paced Learning for Working Adults
One of the key advantages of an online freeCodeCamp degree program would be the flexibility to accommodate working adults and parents. Unlike traditional university programs with fixed class schedules and semester deadlines, our curriculum would be entirely self-paced.
Students could study whenever their schedules allow – early mornings, lunch breaks, after the kids are asleep. They could take as much time as they need to master each subject before moving on to the next. If a major life event forced them to take a few months off from studying, they could resume right where they left off, with no time limits or late penalties.
This flexibility is essential for the millions of working adults who need to earn a degree, but can‘t afford to quit their jobs or neglect their families to do it. By eliminating both the financial cost and the opportunity cost, we can make a computer science degree vastly more attainable.
Self-paced learning would also benefit students who might feel rushed or left behind in a traditional classroom setting. They can take extra time to solidify their understanding of difficult concepts, without the pressure of arbitrary deadlines. Faster learners, meanwhile, could blaze through the coursework as quickly as they like.
To keep students on track and motivated, we would offer optional mentoring and study groups. Students could connect with classmates around the world to collaborate on projects and prepare for exams. But ultimately, each student would control their own learning journey.
Overcoming Financial Hurdles
Expanding freeCodeCamp into a full degree-granting program won‘t be cheap. We‘ll need to pay for courseware development, instructors, academic advising, quality assurance, exam proctoring, accreditation fees, and much more.
To fund these costs, we‘ll pursue multiple revenue streams:
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Seeking major gifts from high-net-worth individuals who have benefitted from freeCodeCamp and want to give back. We‘ll offer them the opportunity to establish named scholarships, professorships, etc.
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Grants and sponsorships from tech companies and foundations to develop courses on strategic topics like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. These companies know that supporting technology education is a smart investment.
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Fee-based certificates for students who want official proof of completing our courses for employment or educational credit. While the courses themselves will always be free, students could pay a small fee (waived for low-income learners) to receive a verified freeCodeCamp certificate.
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A low-cost exam proctoring fee to cover the expenses of securely administering tests and assessments online. This would replace the more onerous costs of maintaining physical testing facilities.
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Showing relevant display ads to non-registered learners who find our courses through search engines. The ads would be vetted for quality and relevance to avoid detracting from the learning experience.
These revenue streams, combined with the generous recurring donations from our alumni and supporters, will help put freeCodeCamp on stable financial footing to pursue accreditation and grow our program offerings. We‘ll be transparent about our funding sources and spending, and remain accountable to our global learning community.
Reducing our Environmental Impact
At freeCodeCamp, we‘re committed to furthering technology education while minimizing harm to our planet. We know that some of the technologies we teach, like blockchain and cryptocurrencies, have concerning environmental costs due to their energy-intensive mining and transaction verification processes.
As we develop our courses on these topics, we‘ll focus on the most promising low-energy and carbon-neutral solutions. We‘ll teach students how to build greener blockchain applications and smart contracts. Where energy use is unavoidable, we‘ll purchase carbon offsets to reduce our net environmental footprint.
More broadly, we believe that expanding access to technology education will have a positive environmental impact. Armed with computer science knowledge, students from diverse backgrounds can go on to develop cleaner energy solutions, smarter conservation tools, and more efficient transportation and supply chains.
By enabling more people to study computer science, regardless of their means, we can build a larger, more inclusive coalition of technology professionals working for the greater good.
Transforming Lives and Communities
Ultimately, the motivation behind this ambitious undertaking is to open doors for people. To give the single mother working two jobs a shot at a stable, high-paying career in technology. To give the bright teenager in the developing world an opportunity to apply their talents on a global stage. To give the laid-off factory worker a chance to retrain for an in-demand field.
Every student who graduates with a free freeCodeCamp computer science degree will be set up for a brighter future. They‘ll be able to compete for lucrative jobs from major tech companies recruiting from our program. They‘ll gain the prestige and mobility benefits of a degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
But the impact will extend far beyond the individual graduates. As freeCodeCamp alumni enter the workforce and climb the career ladder, they‘ll be able to better provide for their extended families and invest in their local communities. They‘ll inspire neighbors and relatives to follow in their footsteps and pursue technology education.
As our graduates become hiring managers and startup founders, they‘ll open up opportunities for more freeCodeCamp learners. Over time, we‘ll strengthen the global pipeline of talent from nontraditional backgrounds into the technology workforce and build a more diverse, innovative industry.
The Road Ahead
Building a free, accredited computer science degree program won‘t be a quick or easy feat. It will likely take millions of dollars and many years of tireless effort to bring it to fruition. We‘ll face no shortage of logistical, financial and bureaucratic hurdles along the way.
But I firmly believe it will be one of the highest-impact educational initiatives of the 21st century. It will open up life-changing opportunities to millions of deserving learners who have so much to offer the world.
If this mission speaks to you, I invite you to support our work however you can:
- Tell your employer about freeCodeCamp and ask them to sponsor our courses for your team or the broader community.
- If you work at a foundation focused on education or technology, let‘s discuss how we can work together to expand and enhance our offerings.
- If you‘re an experienced engineer or university administrator, volunteer your expertise to help us navigate the path to accreditation.
- If you‘re in a position to make a large gift, contact me directly to discuss how we can honor your legacy and values.
- And if you share our vision of making world-class education accessible to all, I hope you‘ll join our community of monthly donors. Every contribution makes a difference.
Technology is the great equalizer of the 21st century. With your support, we can empower driven learners from every walk of life to thrive in the digital economy and make their mark on the world. The journey ahead won‘t be easy – but it will be worth it.
Thank you for accompanying us on this ambitious mission. I look forward to sharing many exciting milestones with you in the years to come.
Happy coding!
Quincy Larson
Founder, freeCodeCamp.org