Top 6 Reasons to Earn A Computer Science Degree

Do you like money? Do you thrive on intellectual challenge? Are you fascinated by technology? A computer science degree can lead you to a fulfilling IT career on all three counts. Read on for the top benefits of earning a computer science degree...

This highly technical and demanding field won't appeal to everyone. But those with a genuine interest in computers and the possibilities they present for business, science, communication and the world at large, just might find that a computer science degree is right up their alley. Here are the top six reasons to earn a computer science degree:

Computer Science Graduates Earn Higher Salaries

It's no secret that computing careers provide a nice living. New graduates with bachelor's degrees in computer science were offered an average starting salary of $63,017, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Spring 2011 Salary Survey. That was second only to chemical engineering majors.

Computer Science Majors Have More Job Prospects

Computer science majors are in high demand, according to the NACE. The organization's 2011 Student Survey found that more than 56 percent of computer science majors who applied for jobs had received offers -- making it the major with the highest application-offer rate.

Computer Science Grads Join a Fast Growing Industry

Computer-related employment has slowed since the boom of the 1990s, and job growth has been tempered to a degree by outsourcing. But the industry still appears to be in excellent shape. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Career Guide to Industries 2010-2011, the computer systems design and related services industry is one of the 10 fastest growing in the nation. And computer specialists are likely to see the best job prospects.

The software publishing industry is also poised for growth (software publishing is a main focus of computer science degrees), with employment expected to increase by 30 percent between 2008 and 2018 (roughly three times the 11% average for all occupations). Computer science-related professions accounted for 52 percent of the jobs in the industry.

Computer Science Degree Holders Work in a Wide Range of Industries

Computer science degree programs tend to develop strong theoretical and analytical skills that can be applied to many different professional pursuits, from engineering to healthcare to finance.

Computer Science Grads can Help Make the World a Better Place

Not all computer whizzes use their powers for good (hackers create plenty of havoc, stealing financial information, disrupting business, etc.) But they also have enormous potential to change the world for the better. People with backgrounds in computer science have made and continue to make vital contributions in engineering, the arts & science, and medicine -- including AIDS research and the human genome project, just to name a few examples.

Computer Science Graduates are on the Cutting-Edge of IT

Computers are so ubiquitous these days that it's easy to forget how quickly they've changed our lives. Fifteen years ago, e-mail was a relatively new phenomenon, the Internet was just gaining steam, and no one imagined they'd be carrying smartphones loaded up with nifty apps (back then, making a call from the street usually meant finding a phone booth). What might the next 15 years bring? If you have a degree in computer science, you might be the first to know.

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Sources: CareerBuilder.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), U.S. BLS Career Guide to Industries 2010-2011