Community Discussion: Is a CS Degree Worth the Investment Today?
By
reilly3000
9mo ago· 2 min readenNews
75/100
Toasty
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A respectable bake. You'd come back tomorrow for another.
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Summary
A parent seeks community advice on whether their son should pursue a 4-year CS degree given the high cost ($130K) and time commitment, versus building a resume through work experience. The son is already a skilled developer with experience in C++, Java, web development, and hardware projects. The discussion explores the value of a degree in the current job market, especially with AI impacting entry-level roles, and suggests alternative pathways into a programming career.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledHe’s a fine young developer who loves C++ and learned Java, web dev, and EDA in his teen years for fun.
With AI making entry level programming jobs scarce, does it really make sense to invest the time and money?
His motivation for getting a degree was to be marketable to employers, but also to gain a better understanding of fundamentals.
If not, what sort of pathway into a programming career would be a good alternative?
I’m looking for feedback from the community. My son made a plan to get a 4 year degree from a decent state university in computer science but is having second thoughts. He is looking at ~$130K in costs and 4 years of not working vs trying to find work and
