In Europe, a degree might be, in fact, the cheapest way to learn. College fees are low or none in many countries, and in many cases you can work at the same time. So getting a CS degree might be a slow-but-cheap way of learning programming.
There's also another hidden advantage to universities: you'll get to network with people that are going to be hired pretty much at the same time as you. They might even create their own company. So there's that.
Plus, universities are community hubs around which many user groups are created and nurtured. So they are the best way to engage the local free software scene.
In the US, colleges have become outrageously expensive over the past 20 years. There are several reasons for it, but most of it comes down to the way student loans are structured and excessive, non-academic, overhead costs.
The loans has served to enrich the companies that have provided them along with college administrators and politicians (left and right) who assist in the process while hurting students, their families and even college professors. This process is crippling US higher education and causing a slower economy.
Overhead costs come from excessive spending on sports teams, primarily football (US style). Head football coaches are typically one of the highest paid employees at most colleges. The infrastructure costs of building stadiums is huge. There are other high costs in the university system but this is perhaps the largest one.
Ryan is an engineer in the Sacramento Area with a focus in Python, Ruby, and Rust. Bash/Python Exercism mentor. Coding, physics, calculus, music, woodworking. Looking for work!
In Europe, a degree might be, in fact, the cheapest way to learn. College fees are low or none in many countries, and in many cases you can work at the same time. So getting a CS degree might be a slow-but-cheap way of learning programming.
There's also another hidden advantage to universities: you'll get to network with people that are going to be hired pretty much at the same time as you. They might even create their own company. So there's that.
Plus, universities are community hubs around which many user groups are created and nurtured. So they are the best way to engage the local free software scene.
In the US, colleges have become outrageously expensive over the past 20 years. There are several reasons for it, but most of it comes down to the way student loans are structured and excessive, non-academic, overhead costs.
The loans has served to enrich the companies that have provided them along with college administrators and politicians (left and right) who assist in the process while hurting students, their families and even college professors. This process is crippling US higher education and causing a slower economy.
Overhead costs come from excessive spending on sports teams, primarily football (US style). Head football coaches are typically one of the highest paid employees at most colleges. The infrastructure costs of building stadiums is huge. There are other high costs in the university system but this is perhaps the largest one.
That's bad. Higher education should be the equalizer of people coming from different backgrounds.
That’s cool. Thanks for the international perspective 😁