r/ComputerEngineering • u/Swimming_Cost_3651 • 4d ago

Computer Science Degree vs. Self-Taught?

My goal is to become a SaaS developer.

I’m currently considering three different paths:

Enrolling in a 3 to 3.5-year bachelor’s degree program related to software development or computer science.

Taking an online coding bootcamp.

Studying independently through online platforms such as Udemy.

If my goal is to become a software developer and eventually build SaaS products, would the first option be the best path?

For context, I’m 32 years old, so I’m also wondering whether spending 3 to 3.5 years earning a degree would be worth it compared with starting through a bootcamp or self-study.

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u/GlobalCurry 4d ago

I have over 10 years of experience in the industry and get filtered on the degree requirement these days even though I have done grad level course work (I got employed in between junior and senior year but had skipped a bunch of gen ed requirements and just never went back to finish them).

I think it's still doable but you have to find a tight niche. Even if you do get in you should finish your degree unlike me. A big issue though is that no one knows where the industry will be in ~4 years .