◉ Expert Analysis
Should I major in computer science?
Analyzed by 4 domain experts
Still the single highest-ROI degree in 2026, but the entry-level market demands more than coursework.
CS remains the most in-demand degree, but the junior hiring freeze of 2023-2024 showed that the degree alone is not enough. Internships, personal projects, and open-source contributions are now table stakes.
◉ Expert Perspectives
“CS enrollment is up 35% in 5 years because the outcomes justify the difficulty.”
Median starting salary for CS graduates is $85K, rising to $130K+ at mid-career. Even as AI changes what programmers do, understanding computational thinking is becoming more valuable, not less. The curriculum teaches problem decomposition, algorithms, and systems design that AI cannot replace.
“We still hire more CS majors than any other discipline by a factor of 10.”
A CS degree from a reputable school plus 2 internships is the most reliable path to a $150-250K total comp job at a major tech company. Target internships starting sophomore summer. The difference between a $85K and $200K new grad offer is almost entirely about internship experience and interview prep.
“AI is not replacing CS graduates. It is making them 10x more productive.”
Junior developers using AI tools ship code 2-3x faster. But you need CS fundamentals to evaluate whether AI-generated code is correct, secure, and efficient. The floor for what a single developer can build has risen dramatically. CS graduates who embrace AI tools are the most valuable workers in tech.
“CS teaches you how to build things. It does not teach you what is worth building.”
The most impactful technologists combine CS with domain knowledge in healthcare, education, finance, or policy. Consider a CS major with a minor in your passion area. Pure CS without context creates technically excellent solutions to the wrong problems.
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What does a cs department chair think about “should i major in computer science?”?+
CS enrollment is up 35% in 5 years because the outcomes justify the difficulty. Median starting salary for CS graduates is $85K, rising to $130K+ at mid-career. Even as AI changes what programmers do, understanding computational thinking is becoming more valuable, not less. The curriculum teaches problem decomposition, algorithms, and systems design that AI cannot replace.
What does a faang recruiter think about “should i major in computer science?”?+
We still hire more CS majors than any other discipline by a factor of 10. A CS degree from a reputable school plus 2 internships is the most reliable path to a $150-250K total comp job at a major tech company. Target internships starting sophomore summer. The difference between a $85K and $200K new grad offer is almost entirely about internship experience and interview prep.
What does a ai researcher think about “should i major in computer science?”?+
AI is not replacing CS graduates. It is making them 10x more productive. Junior developers using AI tools ship code 2-3x faster. But you need CS fundamentals to evaluate whether AI-generated code is correct, secure, and efficient. The floor for what a single developer can build has risen dramatically. CS graduates who embrace AI tools are the most valuable workers in tech.
What does a liberal arts professor think about “should i major in computer science?”?+
CS teaches you how to build things. It does not teach you what is worth building. The most impactful technologists combine CS with domain knowledge in healthcare, education, finance, or policy. Consider a CS major with a minor in your passion area. Pure CS without context creates technically excellent solutions to the wrong problems.
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