I have a bachelor's degree in International Business but haven't worked in a related field. I'm not in a rush to change careers, but I want to explore options for transitioning into software engineering since it's something I've been curious about. I'm looking for a low-cost and low-risk way to learn the fundamentals of software engineering. I plan to start studying online and maybe work part-time while I figure out the best path forward.
I'm considering a few options:
1. Going to community college and then transferring to an online university.
2. Starting at community college and applying to a master's program later—would this work if I have a solid foundation?
3. Jumping straight into an online university.
With 2026 in mind, what could be the best way to approach this?
3 Answers
Jumping into software engineering right now isn’t really low-risk. The market's pretty wild, and there are tons of applicants for each job. Many companies are looking for CS degrees, but they also use tough coding interviews that can be really stressful. It's a challenging time to enter the field, that’s for sure.
Honestly, there’s no low-cost, low-risk path lately; software development jobs are really competitive and the field is changing dramatically with AI. If you can code already, that’s a plus, but it’s tough with so many people vying for the same roles. Just prepare for some intense competition!
If you’re genuinely curious, it’s definitely worth trying! The key is to start small and focus on learning the basics of software engineering first—whether online or in-person, that’s up to you. Just make sure you build a strong foundation to grow from. Good luck!

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