Let's discuss something the tech industry dances around but never really addresses directly. Does a computer science degree actually make you better in tech than someone who is self taught? I am going to be honest. I do not think it does. The degree teaches you theory. Algorithms, data structures, computer architecture. Important foundations. But the real job teaches you everything else. How to work with a team. How to debug something that makes no sense at 11pm. How to communicate with a client who does not understand what you are building. How to deliver under pressure. None of that is in a textbook. Some of the most capable tech professionals I have come across never studied computer science formally. They learned by building, breaking things, failing, and refusing to stop. And some degree holders are struggling in roles because a certificate does not automatically translate to practical ability. Both sides exist. The problem is we treat the degree like the only legitimate entry point and that is simply not true anymore. What actually matters is what you can do when you sit down in front of the work. Can you solve the problem? Can you communicate clearly? Can you deliver what was promised? Nobody in a real work environment is asking where you studied. I want to hear from both sides on this. Did your CS degree prepare you for your actual role or did you have to relearn most things on the job? And if you are self taught, what has your experience been breaking into the industry? Drop it in the comments. Let us have this conversation properly.
And before anyone comes for me, I am not saying degrees are useless. I am saying they are not the only path and we need to stop treating them like they are.
Most employers care about what you can do in front of them during an interview or assessment. Your certificate gets you the first glance. Your skills get you the job.
I'm currently wrapping up my 2 years software engineering diploma program, and I'm currently just starting out to actually relearn what I thought I've been learning for over two years now. And when I say starting out, I mean from the very basics because, I realised the only way to gain expertise and actually be relevant in the tech space, is to know my stuff (how to code). At the end, I know it will all be worth it.
As a Computer Science student, I don't see my degree as something that competes with self-learning, it complements it. I would also love to assert that every technology that makes it easy for everyone to come into a tech today was built on CS knowledge, for example, programming languages, many won't even come close to tech, if not for the abstraction created for high level languages. CS teaches the principles behind them, algorithms, data structures, OS, and the rest of them. Those fundamentals make it easier to adapt to any new technology and If you happen to learn them without a degree, good!, if not? There are systems you can't build nor touch. That said, the degree alone isn't the differentiator. Passion, curiosity, and consistent practice matter just as much as it is for every degree, it is evident that a motivated engineer without a CS degree will outperform someone with one who never applies themselves. The real advantage comes when strong fundamentals meet genuine passion for building. That's where I believe CS provides lasting leverage. In conclusion, CS built the foundation for everything tech today, and that is what we learn as CS student
Maya Steele
4d
CS degree here, 8+ years across healthcare, aerospace, e-commerce, and energy — I'll be honest,I agree with most of this. The degree didn't make me good at the job. It gave me a foundation, sure, but everything that actually matters debugging at 11pm, translating a messy stakeholder ask into something buildable, delivering under pressure I learned on the job, not in a lecture hall.I'd say the real difference isn't degree vs. self-taught, it's how much time you get to skip the "figuring out what you don't know" phase. Some self-taught folks I've worked with were just as strong. Some just hit gaps later in system design conversations. Both paths get you there if you put in the work.Nobody's checking my transcript when they need their production issue fixed. 🙂
I feel like...there were will always be many paths to a destination. I know that no amount of time in a classroom setting can adequately replace personal character or work ethic. Im self taught and getting certifications, eventually maybe wanting a degree. But ether way, anyone that has prejudice to someone's efficiency in any matter of life, simply does not know how the world works. Every person, place, thing, circumstance and situation has potential. Sometimes you need to look beyond the paper trail in order to see it.
Soft skills, team dynamics, and communication methodologies mean absolutely nothing if the work isn't rooted in the actual science of computing. You can be the best communicator or team player in the room, but if you don't deeply understand machine logic, architecture, and core fundamentals, you cannot solve hard engineering problems. If the underlying computer science foundation is missing, the rest of it simply doesn't matter.
Aaron Browne
4d
Abigail Akpan I agree it doesn’t. But it does open up doors for roles that require it. And if you move deep into AI or Operating System programming. You’ll understand the theoretical operations that you’ll have to code and optimise physically. So for those advantages it most likely worth it. Also within AI you’d understand the neural networks in such depth, when you’re able to code them. That puts you in the top 1%.
Have you considered the degree holders already learning and building beyond the curriculum even before they get the degree? I think that's the most effective nd efficient. Because they don't just know the "HOW" they know the WHY, the foundations and deeper processes and techniques.
I have seen self taught professionals run circles around degree holders on the job. I have also seen degree holders who are incredibly solid. The certificate alone does not tell the full story.