Ask HN: Is a CS Degree Worth It, or Should I Learn on My Own?

What it is

A long crowd-sourced discussion among working engineers arguing both sides of the degree question, with detail on where formal study helps and where self-teaching is sufficient.

Why I recommend it

Read the disagreements, not just the top comment. The pattern: degrees help with first-job screening, portfolios help with everything after.

Topics

#career #career-development #community #discussion #free #networking #no-degree-required #research #self-taught

Added Aug 29, 2026 · 0 opens