Ask HN: Would you get a CS degree today?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Cost, Debt, and ROI Calculus

  • The $130k price tag for a US state-school CS degree is widely seen as “huge” and potentially unjustifiable, especially given today’s weak junior job market.
  • Several note that a large chunk of that cost is living expenses, which exist regardless, but tuition has still become “absurdly expensive” even at non-prestigious state schools.
  • Some argue six-figure debt is an unnecessary burden for a career path where skills can be self-taught and entry-level roles are shrinking.

Hiring, Credentials, and Visas

  • Many report that in practice almost all candidates they see in big tech have degrees; some teams explicitly filter out non-grads.
  • Others say the degree is rarely discussed in interviews and mainly serves as an HR gatekeeper.
  • A degree is often required for work visas and for some government roles, regardless of field.
  • There’s disagreement on the value of open-source portfolios: some say almost no one looks, others say they do and have hired from them.

Learning, Fundamentals, and Soft Skills

  • Pro-degree voices emphasize structured exposure to algorithms, OS, compilers, graphics, etc., plus discipline, teamwork, and communication skills gained in college.
  • Several say the non-CS courses and “growing up” aspects of university (liberal arts, social life, soft skills) were more valuable than the coding itself.

Alternatives and Cost-Reduction Strategies

  • Popular suggestions:
    • Start at community college, use AP/CLEP to skip gen eds, then transfer.
    • Choose math or another “hard” discipline and learn programming independently; or major in something else and minor in CS.
    • Foreign universities (e.g., Germany, Finland, Australia) or online programs (e.g., University of London via Coursera) as cheaper, legitimate degrees.
    • Co-op/internship-heavy schools to graduate with experience and minimal debt.
    • Freelancing/small-business work as an alternative “internship pipeline.”

AI, Job Market, and Future Uncertainty

  • Several are pessimistic: junior roles are scarce, competition (including H‑1B/master’s grads) is intense, and AI reduces the need for entry-level “grunt work.”
  • Others argue CS will matter more as automation grows; AI is complex, math-heavy, and good practitioners will remain in demand.
  • Some believe AI abstractions will commoditize much work; others say real competence will still require deep understanding.

Advice for a Highly Advanced Teen Programmer

  • Many note he’s atypical and already beyond intro CS; strong recommendation to test out/skip lower-level classes if he goes.
  • Some suggest leveraging his CS strengths and using college to gain complementary skills (business, finance, other engineering fields) rather than paying to relearn what he knows.
  • A minority view: if he can’t access a top recruiting school and must pay full freight, a CS degree may not be the best use of $130k.