<p>I am currently a sophomore at my state college and in a bit of a bind with this decision. I am currently enrolled as a computer engineering major. I originally chose this path because I wanted to do an engineering field and I have a large interest in computers in general. I really prefer the software side of computers but originally opted for an engineering path for the potential money an engineering title can bring. </p>
<p>Anyways, the computer engineering program at my school seems pretty evenly spaced taking on 4 courses from the CS core curriculum and a few from the EE side with focus on an electronics middle path. They allow for technical and design electives at the end to allow you to specialize and in these courses they have choices from CS and from EE areas. I realize I don't really have that much interest in hardware side of things. I like to program and I like determining system set ups. I suspect when I graduate I will focus more on software engineering and would probably prefer to pad the electives with more CS classes to focus me in that area. So I am beginning to wonder if it is worth it to stay in the engineering degree for the title and the versatility of job openings or switch to CS and get even more software classes. Is it better to stay in computer engineering because it will give me more of a background with hardware to benefit software engineering or better to switch to CS for a full software focus? I do know that computer engineers can do software work where as CS degrees can't go the other way but the only real interest I have on the hardware side is perhaps working in a local chemical plant (I am in louisiana so we have quite a few). Would I be making a large trade off with the pay scale for what engineers make to what computer science majors make? Using the labor statistics it wouldn't seem so but only people in these fields would really have a good say.</p>
<p>So I am basically looking for advice. I know I like software better than hardware and it is probably where I want to be. It shouldn't delay my graduation by switching it is just hard to say "Hey I know I really wanted to be an engineer but this other field is really more of what you want.." so I am having trouble determining what is best for my career.</p>
<p>Engineering salaries are solidly middle class. It is not the field to go into if you want to make a lot of money (unless you can start your own business, which is easier with comp sci)</p>
<p>Thank you. Those links were informative. All of the people I know whom are engineers make more than the people I know with computer science degrees which is why I was thinking that way. I do however realize that it all depends on location, company, and other situations too as to what you make so I appreciate the links with seeing the comparisons.</p>
<p>I’d guess that while the average CS grad makes a little less than the average engineering grad, the top 25% of CS grads make more than the top 25% of engineering grads. Going to better schools and performing better compared to peers (academically and otherwise) can help. There can be orders of magnitude difference between software developers, but I don’t think this is typically true of engineering grads (who get jobs).</p>
<p>If you know you want to do software and do CompEng instead because you’re counting on making more money, it sounds like you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and regret.</p>
<p>Agreed I was just curious if it was enough to offset the switch. I am more interested in software engineering which I could basically achieve through either degree. I was just wondering if the computer science degree would benefit me more or maybe staying in computer engineering because of the versatility of the degree will allow for more job opportunities. While I can do the computer engineering work the physics and electronics is more difficult for me than say the programming stuff involved in a CS degree which comes a bit more naturally to me and I enjoy more (which obviously equates to better grades). I am just nervous that selecting the science degree will cost me something I may regret but at this point I am not aware of it.</p>
<p>A CompE major will not, by itself, make you competitive for many top software jobs, although it will provide you with the background to apply and be considered. Arguably, just majoring in CS isn’t sufficient either, but when your interviewer asks you to design a TM, produce an OOP design in UML, describe the complexity of a complicated algorithm, etc., you should be prepared to provide a more compelling answer than “we don’t study that in CompE”… which, if true, will mean extra work. If you’re willing to work hard, study what you love and money will follow.</p>
<p>CE is only worth it if you know you want to work with computer hardware, and want both EE and CS knowledge. But if you want to work in software - go for CS. And if you want hardware - go to EE.</p>
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