The following are some links that should convince you that it just makes sense. It's fun to be a computer scientist...and you get paid a lot for having that fun.
including (, 33KB)
"Computing and computer technology are part of just about everything that touches
our lives from the cars we drive, to the movies we watch, to the ways businesses and
governments deal with us. Understanding different dimensions of computing is part
of the necessary skill set for an educated person in the 21st century. Whether you
want to be a scientist, develop the latest killer application, or just know what it
really means when someone says 鈥渢he computer made a mistake鈥�, studying computing will
provide you with valuable knowledge."
"The starting pay of certain liberal arts majors generally clocks in well below that
of graduates in engineering fields, according to a Wall Street Journal study. Graduates
with engineering degrees earned average starting pay of $56,000 in their first full-time
jobs out of college, topping other majors. Communications and English majors only
earned $34,000 in their first jobs." - Wall Street Journal
"Here's a tip for incoming and current college students: If you want to have a high-paying job on graduation day, study computer science." - NetworkWorld
"What happened to well-rounded? There are far fewer people graduating with math-based majors, compared to their liberal-arts counterparts, which is why they are paid at such a premium. The fields of engineering and computer science each make up about 4% of all college graduates, while social science and history each comprise 16% [...]. As a result, salaries for graduates who studied fields like social work command tiny paychecks, somewhere in the vicinity of $29,000. English, foreign language and communications majors make about $35,000..."
"CRA said the popularity of computer science majors among college freshmen and sophomores
is because IT has better job prospects than other specialties, especially in light
of the global economic downturn. "
"When you compare the demand for jobs with the production of computer science undergrads,
we're way short. It's clear there's an opportunity here."
"College students pursuing myriad careers agree that high-tech skills will take them further, and a majority expect to encounter new technologies they will have to master in the workforce."
Business Week: Recession-Proof Jobs
No. 2脩Software Design/Development Median Salary: $85,000-$95,000
"Recession or no, there's still competition for the top engineering talent, especially
in areas of the consumer, user-generated Web."
"Software designers write the programs to meet business needs. Computer software engineers are expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations through 2016, according to the Department of Labor."
These article claims that studying Computer Science is the best way to ensure employment even in hard times.
"Engineers of all kinds are in demand and are facing a rock-bottom jobless rate of about 3 percent, according to Gilliam of the Adecco Group North America. That compares with a nationwide unemployment rate of 8.1 percent last month."
National Science Foundation Report: Employment and Salaries or Recent Science Graduates
The report shows that starting salaries of recent Science graduates (2002-2006) are excellent. A new graduate with a Bachelor in Computer Science could count on an average salary of $45,000.00, while a graduate with a Master in Computer Science would do even better with a starting salary of $65,000.00.
After decade of sharp declines, departments start to see first increases due to new approaches to the curriculum, new marketing and more jobs.
Education Department study shows that college grads with 脪career-oriented脫 majors are more likely to be settled in the workforce than their counterparts that graduated from other areas.
Videos from University of Washington about the bright prospects for interesting life as a computer science and engineering professional.
"NCWIT now provides newly gathered data to help you raise awareness and advocate for change. The map [...] presents education and workforce data at the national, state, and congressional district level."