Those with an MS, was it worth it in terms of skill, knowledge? In terms of career, comp growth?
Posted by Firm_Bit@reddit | ExperiencedDevs | View on Reddit | 55 comments
I have a non-CS STEM bachelors degree and I pivoted into SWE in 2018/2019. I make $140k at a neat start up and I've gotten to the final rounds of jobs in the $160k-180k range but never landed one. I feel that I don't need an MS to grow comp just yet.
But I do lack fundamentals. I'm good at what I do but only because I grind at work to learn things as I need them. I'm wondering if an MS in CS would help me reduce the amount of grinding I have to do on the job to keep pace.
Looking for personal anecdotes on how an MS in CS affected your skill/knowledge and career/comp, but any advice is appreciated.
Tcepsa@reddit
I've been at the same company for 17+ years. They paid for me to get my MSCS, which I finished about 15 years ago. I believe I got a small-ish pay bump with it, and it put me on a better compensation trajectory (I am likely making less than I could otherwise be because I have stayed with the same company rather than job hopping, but that is somewhat beside the point). The biggest benefits that I feel I got from it were:
1) Better fundamentals of computer science. Note that this does not mean "good at industry standard tools like git or Docker"; an MSCS may include the opportunity to learn them and may even offer courses that focus on them, but I don't consider them to be "fundamentals of computer science." I mean more like "understanding algorithmic performance", "[operating] system design", "compiler design", "how computer graphics work" and so on. I feel that the understanding of these that I developed through the Master's degree has helped me be a better software engineer.
2) A position with my current group, and a much longer employment with this company than I might have otherwise had. About 12 years ago, shortly after completing the degree, I was struggling to find work that was a good fit for me in my group at the time, and may have been on track for our equivalent of a PIP or worse. I ended up supporting a project with what-is-now my current group, one which leveraged some of the principles that I had picked up in the course of the degree. They appreciated my contributions so much that they encouraged me to apply internally to a position they were hiring for. I did so, and since they did a lot of 3D applications, as part of my interview I gave them a demo of some software I had written in my computer graphics courses. I may still have gotten the position without that, but I was told after getting the position that they had been very impressed with it. It's been a very fulfilling and satisfying 12 years with this group.
mkdev7@reddit
Maybe overall life experience and knowledge roi but for a financial roi, 2 years of LC/CP would trump a MS every time if you put in the same hours.
Wide-Pop6050@reddit
I have a CS masters and feel that it gave me my career. It was a rigorous program, and I did learn fundamentals.
bonzai76@reddit
I got my CS Masters to break in (my undergrad was in Business Admin). I don’t know that it’s helped me at all - just a piece of paper really. It taught me CS but nobody cares that I have the masters. The only people that seem to care is the govt - my former employer was a govt contractor and having developers with master degrees on the bid enhances their proposal.
tripsafe@reddit
How do you know nobody cares? Your resume might have just been binned everywhere without that masters
Fantosism@reddit
The only reason to get a masters in this industry is if you are specifically targetting a position that requires it -- and those postings are probably less than half a percent of all available postings at any given time.
Otherwise you get a masters if: your undergrad was international and not well known. Or you're looking for sponsorship and want to look better than the other applicants.
If you can think of any other examples, let me know. Otherwise it's maybe a flat 5% base salary increase in the jr/mid level over those that don't have a masters. And considering the 2 years in lost opportunity cost while getting it, don't think the ROI is there.
UntrustedProcess@reddit
Consultants / Contractors are the orgs who ever seem to care about degrees / certifications because it affects the bottom line.
rca06d@reddit
Got an MS in scientific computing to jump from web dev to scientific programmer. I actually took a pay cut to do so, and not even really sure if it helped me get the job or not, but I’m actually really glad I got the MS anyway. My program was great and I graduated with some serious, tangible skills I did not have before. My ability to actually do what I do now came mostly from that program. I possibly could have learned it in my own, but there is no way I actually would have on my own motivation, and certainly not in the time frame I did. If you’re someone who likes learning, and have access to a good program, it might be worth it all in its own. If you’re in it purely to get a raise, probably not for you.
manchikun@reddit
Where did you end up doing your program?
__iAmARedditUser__@reddit
I’ve been a dev for 10+ years mostly in the NS space and I’ve never seen anyone care if you have a degree or not. Most people I work with now didn’t even attend collage.
The caveat is that you need to be generally interested in learning yourself, be able to show recruiters you can deploy and manage applications even if they are simple ones.
General_Explorer3676@reddit
Nope but i got it paid for and enjoyed the program did nothing for me though
Pitiful_Objective682@reddit
Depends on the company. Everywhere Ive worked it might help get your foot in the door but once you’re in it’s useless.
For our new grads, you get hired with a bs and get promoted in one year and make the same as a masters new grad. So bs students save money on schooling and move faster (as long as they’re good).
ccricers@reddit
I hope people put to rest the misconception that government would hire anyone that's at least decent in the basics, because they filter for a degree more stringently than the private sector in general.
hershey678@reddit
No lol. If you lack the fundamentals just read some textbooks and implement some projects.
The new grad on my team mentioned he only took 2 proper CS classes in and at his level should be making $160-$250k.
Ok-Introduction-244@reddit
In terms of skill and knowledge? For me.... It absolutely wasn't.
I enjoyed the program and I enjoyed the classes. But it was very far removed from what I did at work. One of the classes was on databases and it went into all sorts of detail that was equally fascinating and equally useless for me professionally. I've always been an average sort of business app, I need to use postgrea or whatever, but a deeper theoretical understanding hasn't been useful.
I was a non-traditional student and I kept working full time. It took me over three years, and I took a class each summer too.
I would have been so much better off spending that time to learn about the things I use at work.
In terms of career? It's harder to say. I ended up working in the EU and I was told that the masters degree would help me get a work permit. I was approved, accepted the job and lived in Ireland for a while. I'm super grateful.
Without the masters...I don't know. Maybe I would have all gotten in...but maybe I wouldn't have.
Outside of that, I don't think any other jobs have really cared.
Generally, I wouldn't recommend it unless...
1 - You do it right after undergrad because you love college and have a graduate assistantship.
2 - You want to continue in academia. At one point, I imagined myself becoming an adjunct professor somewhere, but that was before the popularity of online classes and now it seems unlikely to be something I'll ever do.
3 - Your employer will pay for it and it's something you think would be enjoyable to do/you would get a sense of pride or whatever.
The thing is, you can learn everything I did in my masters program without paying tuition. So the knowledge is out there, free. And, honestly, even though I did very well and graduated with honors, I've forgotten virtually everything I learned. It's been ... 15 years and I just vaguely remember studying the topics.
ThunderHamsterDoll@reddit
not worth it
selfimprovementkink@reddit
MS in the US only makes sense if you are a career switcher or a foreigner. or if your undergrad was from a weak school.
UntrustedProcess@reddit
Or.... if you are moving towards management.
selfimprovementkink@reddit
that'd be an MBA maybe. not an MS. unless its an MS in Software Management or Information Systems or something gimmicky like that
VineyardLabs@reddit
As an alumni of the Georgia Tech OMSCS, I’d say yes. I think an MS is of questionable tangible value to many SWEs who already have a bachelors in CS. But, since you don’t have an undergrad in CS I do think that an MS could both help you fill in the fundamentals and also pad out your resume for any jobs that really care about a formal education in software.
zhoumasterzero@reddit
Echoing everything everyone else says about an MS. However, if you feel like you're missing out on fundamentals - I've found that O'Reilly books are a good medium between textbooks and just blogs or code examples. They also cite real or realistic examples which will actually help your career and interview experience.
I really liked Designing Data Intensive Applications - a good mix of fundamentals of data systems (which are actually relevant in real life vs just theory) and stories of how the apps/tech companies you interact with every day are built
DeathByClownShoes@reddit
You would be better off going back to your previous school to get a BS in STEM, using your existing credits to effectively "double major", of possible.
You won't get in to an MS program without satisfying prerequisites that you don't have, which means you'd be required to take additional classes (at grad school tuition rates) that you'd otherwise be better off just doing to complete another BS.
MrJaver@reddit
I make $250k and I have a bs in cs but this bs was a total bs, I learned everything I know myself from framework docs, blogs, tutorials and such.
The only thing that matters is a US passport, I went through a lot of trouble just to get a work permit.
In terms of comp ROI just trade your time for leetcode skill and land one of the big jobs, buy some system design courses and such. And also look at common job reqs like what tech is most in demand and go learn it to put on your cv.
Worth_Biscotti_5738@reddit
Similar background to you and I did this when switching into software. It was really good for my career but mostly because of meeting a friend who introduced me to the right people at a startup nearby. It was also one of the better programs so hard to extrapolate. But it was very fun to take time to learn fundamentals and explore the field more thoroughly.
Fantosism@reddit
Unless you're an H1B or trying to become a researcher, graduate school is almost always a waste of time in this industry.
Keep grinding, start with the books they'd read in undergrad: https://teachyourselfcs.com
b1e@reddit
I can answer as someone that hires for both specialized and non specialized roles.
An MS for someone that’s mainly an engineer and already has solid experience is not really going to do anything professionally for them usually.
For someone trying to break into engineering that doesn’t already have experience it does absolutely help though typically only if they’ve also secured an internship or some other initial experience.
For getting into MLE/DS it’s basically a hard requirement (or a PhD) unless you already secured several years of solid experience. Too many folks trying to be coursera heroes that don’t know basics
2strokes4lyfe@reddit
I have a non-CS STEM master’s degree, and my company enforces strict criteria for promotions. To be eligible, you need either 5 years of professional experience with a bachelor’s or 3 years with a master’s. Completing my MS in 3 years meant I effectively paused a year of work experience while in school. However, I started with a higher salary than coworkers with similar experience but no MS. Over the last five years, I’ve also advanced faster than many of them.
Software engineering (SWE) isn’t a field that typically benefits from additional schooling; it’s more about strong technical skills and solving business problems. The tech industry also normalizes frequent job changes every couple of years, which often leads to higher salaries. Had I skipped grad school and switched jobs more often, I’d likely be making more now.
That said, I wasn’t ready to start working as an SWE right after undergrad. Grad school was pivotal for me—it introduced me to working with large-scale data and helped me sharpen my technical abilities. It also connected me with talented, insightful peers and fostered an environment of cross-disciplinary learning. I built lifelong friendships and gained exposure to data and research topics that a typical undergrad program doesn’t cover.
I should note that I had a full scholarship for my MS, which made it easier to overlook the financial burden of grad school. If you can secure full or partial funding, I highly recommend pursuing a master’s in a data-related field that interests you. I wouldn’t trade my grad school experience for anything—it taught me invaluable lessons about the world and myself. While challenging, it prepared me so well that my first job felt easy by comparison. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for a higher starting salary or an earlier career start. However, if I were burdened with significant student debt, my perspective might be different.
Normal_Cut_5386@reddit
I have an MS in compSci because my employer paid for it and I had the time to do it. I learned a lot, so yes it does increase your knowledge base. It has not helped me earn more nor advance more quickly with my employer.
I am a company internal software engineer so I do not work in consulting or teaching. However, I have seen some consultants that use the MS credentials. Also, it will definitely be a requirement for any college level teaching.
dotnetdemonsc@reddit
I have my masters because I’m also an adjunct instructor and it’s required. I plan on teaching after I retire (and I use that term loosely) so I can hopefully prepare the future generations of engineers
delightless@reddit
If you had a CS undergrad then I would say MS is mostly pointless although it might help you land a few more interviews.
But also you should expect more scrutiny from interviewers from someone touting a master's degree.
If you keep going to PhD then I bet that opens a whole bunch of interesting doors.
hell_razer18@reddit
my master is not about CS. One thing that I learned there was about the mindset and I learned a lot from older people about how to improve my skill, especially non technical skill and critical thinking. I suppose it is worth it
AnimaLepton@reddit
If you can get into something like the Georgia tech online masters, which is pretty cheap but still well respected and can be done on your own time, you should be good. If you're talking about leaving the workforce for a full-time program that you're paying for out-of-pocket, that's probably not going to be worth it compared to just continuing to work, living frugally, and investing the difference
Ace2Face@reddit
I guess they call you a Solutions Engineer for a reason.
turtleProphet@reddit
Planning to start the Georgia Tech program in the next couple of years. ROI is not so important to me; I just want to learn more rigorously and explore more specialist engineering domains.
Ok-Street4644@reddit
If that’s your goal then it’s totally worth it in my opinion.
Used-Assistance-9548@reddit
Its worth it , but is a time commitment
chillPenguin17@reddit
For me, it was absolutely worth it coming from a non-CS, but still STEM undergrad background. If I had a CS degree already, I'm not sure it would have been as valuable, but there are definitely some employers that prefer hiring folks with advanced degrees. I'd say it's been more beneficial on the career side than the skills/knowledge side, but I did learn a lot of useful stuff.
If you're able to pull it off part-time while keeping your job, that would be best. I do not think it would be worth it if you take an employment gap to go back to school full-time.
sarhoshamiral@reddit
Career wise not really but it helped a ton with immigration related issues.
hsbnyc@reddit
Skills knowledge? Minimal, I had taken cs courses but didn’t get a cs degree. Career? Absolutely, opened doors that otherwise wouldn’t have been open. That accelerated the growth and pay to the point the degree paid for itself within in a couple of years.
zephids@reddit
Currently doing a MSE and the content + delivery is significantly worse than Coursera/edx/etc. I agree with another poster that you should evaluate what you want out of the degree. If it's knowledge then you're better off with non-traditional learning. The main benefits for the masters degree is cohort and/or a piece of paper to improve your chances to interview.
CrayonUpMyNose@reddit
No. The tax system is built around bachelor degree careers. Straight out of college, you pay low taxes while building your retirement savings, getting first time home buyer and child tax credits, which all conspire to put you miles ahead financially of anyone who makes no money for years on end in higher education and then suddenly gets dumped into a position where they want to buy a home and have kids but no longer quality for any tax benefits and pay double for a home comparable to the one the less educated college graduate lives in and fully paid off already, with a bigger 401k benefiting from compound interest to boot.
hachface@reddit
I was a career-changer who get a masters aftee a non-technical undergrad degree. Getting the words “Computer Science” on my resume was instrumental in landing my first dev role. I also paid almost nothing for my degree because i was a full-time employee of the university while taking the classes at night.
If you already have a software career I can’t imagine an MS would be worth paying for.
imdibene@reddit
No
dlevac@reddit
People that know better won't care about the masters. That doesn't mean there aren't nice jobs floating around where people don't know better... Doesn't mean you'll land one of those as a result of doing your master though.
My advise? Look into the program and see if what they are teaching is of interest to you or not. If not, you are doubly wasting your time.
The path to happiness is to do what you love and then learn to sell it to others. Not do what others love so you can get away not learning to sell yourself...
rajhm@reddit
It was for me, but I'm a DS/MLE (none of the below will generalize to most other specialties) and got it before my first industry role (which paid about $155k TC in 2024 dollars, back in 2018). Also spent another 3.5 years in school after the MS before quitting a PhD.
The team I got hired to definitely wouldn't consider me without the academic background.
I got much better at public speaking, presentation skills, technical communications, problem solving and research skills, statistical background and intuition that I need on the job, etc. during the research MS and most of the PhD. But even for my role I would consider what I learned in grad school (in the coursework) to be mostly a different dimension from what I needed to learn on the job.
I'm someone who believes in some inherent value of education but don't think that it will make much of a difference at all in the amount of grinding needed for what you describe. It's more that every once in a while, you might be able to think of a solution or a problem in a different way and get to a better outcome (or have tangential exposure to a concept that you can research, which might help you out). You'll still need to work for things and won't get inherently smarter or anything like that.
ATotalCassegrain@reddit
Probably a net negative, imho. Masters today seem to be really ticket punching except in specific fields, generally in engineering. Computer Science, not much reason for a masters I don’t think.
Focus on getting better at your job and understanding it more than just grinding it out.
A masters isn’t going to somehow make you not grind things out. If you’re six years into your job and still just grinding things out, you’ll still just be grinding things out post masters.
jimbecile@reddit
I found rigorously learning fundamentals you might not need/use day-to-day at work and getting a better grasp of the high-level math was super useful for solving problems. Recommended.
rad_pepper@reddit
My MS helped me because I had to pay for my undergrad with military service. Doing the MS after that helped bring me up to speed quickly in a structured environment and land a job. I wouldn't recommend one if you are already in the field though.
theavatare@reddit
Nope.
LetsWorkTogetherAll@reddit
Kinda, it was hard to manage both working full time and a master's. Ended up getting laid off from my job but still graduated this year with an M.S. in CS. I learned a lot and it helps me stand out against other people a bit.
(If anyone is hiring a mid level dev (NYC area or remote), please let me know!)
jek39@reddit
if you work at a mega corp it can help you advance. smaller companies I doubt it
AromaticStrike9@reddit
I did an MS in CS just because my company at the time would pay for it and it was a relatively prestigious university. The biggest thing to come out of it was getting hired by one of my instructors afterwards. I wouldn't say it really gave me all that much of a leg-up on knowledge, but I already had an undergrad in CS.
dangling-putter@reddit
No. I was way too over-skilled and expensive for the roles my """""experience"""""" allowed me to apply for.
thisismyfavoritename@reddit
kind of, but not really. Helped me enter the data science space before the boom, then slowly transitioned to software engineering over a few roles.
Depends why you want to do a masters for. For a dev job, i think work experience is much better. If you want to break in another field it can help, but again, work experience would be better
mo4in210@reddit
No, it was only way to get into USA and look for opportunities after completing MS