Is CS the New Art Degree?
Lately, I’ve been hearing the phrase "CS is the new art degree," and honestly, it hits differently depending on how you look at it. Part of me sees the frustration behind it—so many people chasing a CS degree, hoping for a golden ticket, only to end up struggling. But another part of me thinks it’s an oversimplified take that ignores the nuances of the tech industry. Let’s break it down.
Why People Are Saying This
I get why some people feel this way. CS has exploded in popularity, and with the flood of new graduates, not everyone lands that dream six-figure job. Some graduates can’t even find work in tech at all, and suddenly they’re left wondering if they just wasted years and thousands of dollars on a degree that didn’t pay off. It’s easy to see the parallels with art degrees—fields that are also competitive, with outcomes that depend heavily on the individual’s effort and talent.
But here’s the kicker: unlike art degrees, CS isn’t inherently a low-opportunity field. The demand for skilled engineers is still massive. It’s just that "skilled" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. A CS degree alone won’t get you far anymore—you need to prove you’ve got the chops. And honestly, I think that’s fair. The industry rewards competence, not participation.
CS Is Crowded, But Not Dead
Yes, the field feels crowded. Yes, there are bootcamps and influencers hyping up the "easy money" angle, which only adds to the flood of applicants. But let’s not confuse overcrowding with irrelevance. The reality is, companies are still desperate for great talent. The problem is that the bar for "great talent" keeps rising, and not everyone can clear it. It’s not that CS has lost its value—it’s that the field has matured, and the days of coasting by are over.
Is CS Becoming Overhyped?
If I’m being honest, I think CS has been overhyped. Too many people treat it as a guaranteed path to wealth, and when that doesn’t pan out, they blame the degree. But this isn’t about the degree; it’s about expectations. If you walk into CS expecting to be handed a six-figure job just because you learned to code, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. The real winners in this field are the ones who go beyond the basics—building projects, solving problems, and constantly learning.
My Take on the "New Art Degree" Argument
Here’s where I stand: calling CS "the new art degree" feels lazy to me. It’s not the degree that’s failing people—it’s their approach. Unlike art, where job markets are genuinely limited, CS has opportunities if you put in the work to stand out. Sure, not everyone will succeed. But that’s true in any competitive field. The difference is that CS still has a much higher ceiling for those who put in the effort.
So, is CS the new art degree? No, not really. But it’s also not the golden ticket it used to be. It’s a field that demands more than just a diploma. If you’re willing to rise to the challenge, there’s still an incredible amount of opportunity waiting. If you’re not, then yeah, maybe CS will feel like an art degree to you.