03/09/2026
The CS Diaspora
Is the traditional Computer Science degree fading into history or embracing a resurrection body?
A curious thing is happening at campuses of USC. According to numbers posted by the San Francisco Chronicles this past February, enrollment in Computer Science major has dropped for the first time since the Dot-Com crash in the mid 90's 😳. According to the numbers, in 2024 it dropped 3% and this year 6%, Even though overall enrollment has risen 2%.
The one exception is UC San Diego.
Why you ask yourself?
Well the answer is as simply: AI.
UC San Diego added an AI Major. As a matter of fact, every University that added an AI program is seeing a lot of interest.
This is a key indicator at what the future holds for CS, and it is not a slow decay into annals of history but more of a new branch on the ever evolutionary tree of CS.
Here’s what’s happening 👇
📉 CS majors down — UC system saw about a 6% drop in computer science enrollment, and this follows another decline last year.
🤖 AI majors exploding — Schools that launch AI-focused degrees (like UC San Diego, MIT, USC, Columbia, and more) are seeing big interest.
🌏 Global shift — In places like China, AI literacy is mandatory, not optional — putting pressure on U.S. schools to catch up.
👩🎓 Students voting with their feet — This isn’t fear of tech jobs — it’s students choosing programs they think actually prepare them for tomorrow’s workforce.
💬 This feels like a cultural and educational inflection point… what do YOU think?
👇 Comment below:
🔹 Are traditional CS degrees still worth it?
🔹 Should universities pivot faster to AI?
🔹 What skills will matter most in the next decade?
🔥 Share this if you know someone choosing majors right now!
