The headlines are sobering: six-figure tech salaries are disappearing, entry-level positions are scarce, and recent computer science graduates face unemployment rates hovering around 6.1%. With enrollment in computer science programs more than doubling from 2014 to 2024—reaching 170,000 undergraduates—many are wondering if they chose the wrong path.
But before you write off your CS degree, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Beyond the Entry-Level Slump
Yes, the current job market for new computer science graduates is challenging. AI is automating many entry-level programming tasks, and the tech industry has contracted from its peak hiring years. But here's what the doom-and-gloom narratives miss: **computer science as a field isn't disappearing—it's transforming.**
Dwana Franklin-Davis, CEO of Reboot Representation, puts it perfectly. She's teaching her elementary-age children to code, not because she's chasing short-term job trends, but because these skills build something more fundamental: the ability to troubleshoot, problem-solve, and think critically. These capabilities are important regardless of the job market's outlook in any given year.
What's Really Happening in Tech
Let's be clear about what AI is and isn't doing. It's handling repetitive, entry-level tasks—the kind of work that's always been a stepping stone rather than a destination. What it's not doing is replacing the need for computer scientists who can design systems, think creatively about complex problems, and provide critical oversight of AI outputs.
There's a reason senior software engineers aren't seeing the same employment challenges as recent graduates: experience, expertise, and higher-order thinking skills still matter enormously.
Your Competitive Advantage
Here's where computer science grads actually have an edge: you're better positioned than anyone to upskill in the technologies that are reshaping the economy. AI development, cloud computing, data science, and cybersecurity aren't just buzzwords—they're fields desperate for talent. And your foundation in computer science makes you a natural fit.
The real value of your degree isn't measured in your first job offer. It's measured across the decades of your career. Research shows that bachelor's degree holders are significantly more likely to secure quality jobs (47%) compared to those with some college (33%) or a high school education (28%). Computer science graduates, in particular, tend to land higher-paying positions over the long term.
Three Steps to Stay Competitive
**1. Embrace Flexibility**
That dream job at a prestigious tech company with a massive starting salary? It might not be in the cards right now. Accept this reality and shift your focus to building skills and gaining experience wherever you can find it.
**2. Develop Practical AI Fluency**
Don't just learn tools in isolation. Study job postings to understand what employers actually need, then seek out internships, project-based work, or learning opportunities where you can get feedback from experienced professionals. Employers want people who can think critically and apply judgment, not just execute technical tasks.
**3. Look Beyond Big Tech**
Healthcare, government technology, public health, fintech—countless industries need people with your skills. Don't limit yourself to the obvious choices.
Entry-level computer science jobs haven't vanished—they've evolved. The question isn't whether your degree has value, but whether you're willing to adapt alongside the changing landscape.
Education isn't a stock to panic-sell when the market dips. It's a long-term investment in your ability to navigate whatever comes next. And in a world increasingly shaped by technology, a computer science degree remains one of the strongest foundations you can build.
The skills you've gained—logical thinking, problem-solving, understanding complex systems—will serve you for decades, regardless of how the tech industry shifts in the short term. So instead of watching and waiting, start building the practical experience and flexible mindset that will help you thrive in whatever form tech careers take next.
Your degree isn't obsolete. But your approach to using it might need an update.