Is online CS master better for non-academia career path?

Question

Online CS master from Georgia Tech or UT Austin etc are very affordable and stringent courses that one can take while working. Does it still make sense for college students to get MS degree at school for extra 1~2 years these days? I understand if you want to pursue academia it's better to stay in school all the way for PhD, but for industrial jobs, is MS-on-campus still the best approach nowadays?From K-12 to 4-year college then 2-year master, it's 19 years on campus. It might be fine for the old days, with online access now, should we shorten the degree process so young people can get to work sooner while keep learning via other venues if needed?

screwturner68 · Accepted Answer

I work with several people who have masters and PHDs in CS and they get paid the same amount as the guys with BS's/BA's and no degree in higher education at all. I am a firm believer in higher education and I cannot for the life f me understand why anyone outside of academia would spend their time and money getting a masters in any IT related area, it's simply not necessary. My guess is they have an undergrad degree in some non-tech area like Music or English and think that getting a Masters in Tech is their way to a lucrative career and personally I think they are setting themselves up for disappointment. It's just as easy to get into the field with self-study and certifications as it is to get in the industry via a masters degree. There's no reason a young person should be going straight from undergrad to grad in CS unless they plan on going into academia (and that's another can of worms). Get a BS in CS and go to work, simple a masters without any experience makes you no more attractive to employers but it does make you poorer.

jqpabc123 · Answer

Having a master's degree may actually be a detriment if you're looking for a real job in software development. Many employers may prefer two years of real work experience over an unsuccessful PhD candidate with elevated salary expectations.

throwaway019254 · Answer

The most important question is - why do you want masters degree? Most people get only bachelors before entering the industry.