Is a computer science major more difficult than a finance major (2024)

FAQs

Is computer science harder than finance? ›

The difficulty of a major in computer science versus finance largely depends on an individual's aptitude, interests, and goals. Computer science often demands a strong foundation in mathematics and logic, requiring students to tackle complex algorithms, data structures, and programming languages.

Earning a computer science degree has been known to entail a more intense workload than you might experience with other majors because there are many foundational concepts about computer software, hardware, and theory to learn. Part of that learning may involve a lot of practice, typically completed on your own time.

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.

The short answer is “yes.” Search any list of majors to study, and you'll likely find that computer science tops the list as one of the most challenging disciplines to learn. Compared to other fields of study, pursuing a career in computer science requires both technical and analytical skill sets.

Earning an Associate degree in computer science before starting a bachelor's degree program may help you feel more confident in comfortable in your studies. Still, computer science is a rigorous field of study that requires dedication and hard work to gain a complete understanding of course materials.

Research shows that computer science has a 9.8% non-completion rate compared to medical sciences, with a dropout rate of approximately 1.5%. Why is that? There are a few reasons why students might drop out of computer science and information technology degrees.

A recent survey from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), revealed that among universities, Computer Science has the highest dropout rate – 9.8%. Followed by Business studies at 7.4% dropout rate, and then Engineering and Technology degrees closing the top of the dropout chart at a 7.2% dropout rate.

A 3.0 GPA (overall and within the pre-major classes) is the minimum requirement to apply to the computer science major and may not result in placement as a full major. The average GPA accepted may be much higher than the minimum accepted to apply. Regardless of your GPA, you should have a back-up plan.

Some of the main math-related skills that the financial industry requires are: mental arithmetic (“fast math”), algebra, trigonometry, and statistics and probability. A basic understanding of these skills should be good enough and can qualify you for most finance jobs.

However, this is just a simple misperception that many students have in the finance study. It is true that knowing math is essential because finance actually is about studying the flow of money. However, that doesn't mean you need a high level of mathematics skills like Calculus.

Is finance a rich major? ›

People who have a bachelor's degree in finance take in $124,000 a year on average, according to data collected by Comparably.

Computer science operates on the language of math. That means earning your bachelor's degree in computer science will likely require taking several math courses. Of course, the number and kinds of classes will depend on your program. At its core, math is about verifying whether certain logical statements are true.

What is the hardest part of computer science? For students with no programming experience, learning their first programming language can be the most challenging aspect of computer science.

Experts Say No. Computer science and tech are far from oversaturated and the need for computer science skills will only continue to grow in tandem with the world's reliance on technology. Pretty much every area of technology is poised to expand because our cultural reliance on technology is expanding so fast.

Ultimately, the best major for you depends on your interests, aptitudes, and career goals. Both finance and computer science offer lucrative and diverse career paths, so think about which field you are more passionate about and can see yourself building a career in.

According to many published statistics, though, like the one published by the University of Nevada, the average GPA of Accounting majors (3.18) seems to be just a bit higher than that of Computer Science majors (3.14).

Additionally, a computer science degree can also provide you with a strong foundation in data analysis and programming languages such as Python and Java, which are widely used in the financial industry.