7 Compelling reasons to study computer science

You need to know what you can do with a degree before you sign up for a program. Can you land a job and earn a decent salary with a Computer Science degree? While nothing is guaranteed, careers related to Computer Science certainly look solid.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shares that jobs in the technology industry are projected to grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026 for an estimated total of 557,100 new jobs in the field.¹ Thanks to the continued growth of cloud computing and data collection, as well as an increased need for cyber security, the job outlook for technology careers looks positive.

Computer Science graduates are qualified for many of those in-demand technology roles. These are just a few of the job titles you could land with a Computer Science degree, along with each job’s median annual salary in 2018, according to the BLS:¹

• Computer programmer, $84,280
• Computer systems analyst, $88,740
• Database administrator, $90,070
• Information security analyst, $98,350
• Software developer, $105,590

As you can see above, a Computer Science degree can lead to many different job titles. Technology is a growing part of nearly every company, so Computer Science graduates can look beyond tech startups as they begin their careers. This versatile degree puts graduates in demand at companies of all sizes and in all industries.

“The degree has been excellent,” says Sean Pour, a cofounder of SellMax who earned a computer science degree for the boost he knew it would give his business. “While I’ve been working on my own project, I know that I certainly could find a job. There’s a shortage of good coders, and my peers all got picked up by respectable companies almost immediately.”

Have you ever downloaded an app and wondered exactly what makes it function, or marveled at how a programming language that looks like gibberish to some can make entire online worlds come to life? Studying Computer Science takes you behind the curtain, giving you an understanding of how the digital world actually works.

“My favorite thing about computer science is being able to understand on a low level how zeros and ones translate to amazing products that we use every day,” says software engineer Tommy Chan.

Many computer scientists started out as mechanically inclined “tinkerers,” people who enjoy learning how something works and pushing the boundaries of their understanding. A degree in Computer Science offers even more opportunities to explore your curiosity to its fullest—in fact, these types of problem-solving skills are highly valued in the tech world!

“If you want to be a computer scientist, you should enjoy understanding how things work and experimenting,” Pour says. “There will be a lot of failures and misunderstandings along the way. If you’re the type of person who can work through those and has fun learning, you’ll be a perfect fit.”

It’s an amazing feeling to be able to make something from nothing, and digital creations are no exception. Understanding various coding languages and what makes them work means computer scientists have the skills to build apps, tools and software programs from the ground up. This is a valuable skillset in the digital age, but the satisfaction of building something from scratch is just as important.

“Being a computer scientist is empowering. If you’ve got an idea you can go out there and build it,” Pour says. “It’s fascinating what type of complex systems can be made once you’re a competent computer scientist.”

The computer science field doesn’t stay still for long thanks to constant developments in technology. Students who pursue this field of study don’t have to leave their learning behind them once they have their degree in hand. Computer Science is a field that encourages continuous learning throughout your career.

“There’s always new technologies springing up, and it forces you to stay on top of things,” Chan says. “Things like cryptocurrencies, blockchain, AI and machine learning are what excites me currently.” Pursuing these learning opportunities is rewarded in the computer science field.

Computer scientists play a large part in shaping the future of our world and bringing benefits big and small to all aspects of society. These tech pros have the ability to make waves in fields like healthcare and education, while empowering underserved communities and increasing equality along the way. There’s no shortage of challenges in the world, and the skillset of computer science professionals can be instrumental in solving many of them.