Hey guys. I am in an interestimg situation right now.
First of all, I’m 31 and I just landed a nice job as a software development and product manager, with a very fair salary. The thing is, I am the only person on the dev team without a CS degree, let alone any degree at all, and I know I am making less because if this.
Second, it is a remote job, I have a small family wanting to start growing in the next couple of years, and I don’t have access to a university, only some community colleges.
I am wanting to ultimately get into Oregon State’s Computer Science Bachelor’s program, which is 100% online. The thing is, it’s a post bacc program, akd I’d have to have a BA to get accepted.
I’m about half way through getting a BA in philosophy. The only way I can finish is to complete it online, through somewhere like ASU.
Ultimately, to finish up the BA in philosophy AND the BS in Computer Science, I’m looking at 60k in debt.
Not only would this allow me to be paid more at my current job, but future jobs as well.
I think it’s a lot, but a friend of mine put it inti sime perspective and said he had a family member who paid around 100k to 120k for their CS degree.
Is this a good idea?
Why do you have to finish your BA in philosophy? Can you do ASU Online or other places which have CS undergraduate degrees and transfer some of your existing credits?
I should clarify a bit… getting the BA iin philosophy will save me about 2 years.
The only requirements for the post bacc CS degree are an existing BA and some math requirements. I could have all of that done in 2 years.
Going into a different CS program would require the math as well as about 4 additional semesters of CS prereqs.
Finishing the philosophy BA is a personal goal I’d like to accomplish, but the main thing is that it will save me about 2 years and I could increase my income for those 2 years as well.
Got it. I think the degree is worth the money, assuming you have a steady job and won’t have problems paying back. the loan. The other consideration is how much time you’ll have for this if you have a full-time job and small kids. But even if you don’t get a CS degree, the BA will be helpful.
Have you contacted Oregon State’s program and talked about your unique situation? They may be willing to make an exception for your years of work experience and accept you without a lower degree, or they could dual enroll you or something. Another idea is to do Modern States online courses and test out of as many classes as possible via AP exams. The Modern States courses are potentially time and money saving, but there is no guarantee you will do well on the exams. Please look into the details, though, as I have no direct knowledge of how this work–have just been researching it as an option for my own older students who are also in unique situations.
Thanks everyone, you have all made some great points for me to consider.
A few things:
- I am wanting to get the CS degree mainly because I feel that, coupled with experience, it will put me on the same playing field for jobs in the future with those who do have CS degrees, since this is the field I am working in.
- I also feel having the CS degree will increase my pay, as well as get me in the job for higher paying jobs
- The main reason I am considering doing the post-bacc CS degree online is that it will be a time saver. The only requirements for getting accepted are a previous BA in any field, and some math requirements.
If I were to try to get into a CS program otherwise, it is incredibly competitive, I’m not near a University in the immediate vicinity, and in addition to finishing up the math requirements, I would also have to take about 4 semesters of CS prereqs.
So, in short:
- To get into the CS program at OSU, I need to have a BA complete as well as the math requirements completed (I could complete both in 2 years)
- To get into a CS program otherwise, I would have to have additional math and CS prereqs done (this would take an additional 2 years)
In essence, getting the BA in Philosophy and then getting into the CS program at OSU is a shortcut, to a degree, even though it costs a bit more. The benefit though is that since I’m not able to physically attend class anyways, it allows me to work full time and go to school.
I guess my main question still is if getting the BA and then CS degree is worth 60k?
I could have 20 paid off by the time I finish my first BA, thus only owing around 40 total, and then I could probably pay 10 to 15 in 1.5 to 2 years WHILE completing the CS degree, bringing the total owed to around 30
For example: 60k starting - 20k paid off while completing the BA - 10 paid of while completing the CS degree = 30k left total).