Computer Science vs Data Science: Degrees, Careers, and Salaries Compared

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Computer science vs data science comes down to what you build: computer science centers on building computational systems and software, while data science focuses on extracting meaningful insights from data. In the computer science vs data science comparison, computer science teaches algorithms, programming, software engineering and computer systems, and data science teaches statistics, machine learning, data engineering and data visualization. Data science vs computer science careers differ too. Computer science graduates most often become software developers, an occupation of 1.7 million jobs with a $135,980 median wage, and data science graduates become data scientists, an occupation of 275,600 jobs projected to grow 35% from 2025 to 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).

Both degrees share programming and mathematics. BLS lists computer science as one of the typical degree fields for data scientists, so many data scientists start with a computer science degree.

What Is the Difference Between Computer Science and Data Science?

The difference between computer science and data science is that computer science focuses on building computational systems, software and algorithms, while data science concentrates on extracting insights from data using statistics and machine learning. In computer science vs data science terms, computer science asks how to make a computer do something correctly and efficiently, and data science asks what the data says and what will happen next. Read as data science vs computer science, the same split shows up in the table below: one field produces software, the other produces predictions.

Computer science vs data science, side by side

 

Computer science

Data science

Core question

How do we build software and systems that work?

What does the data tell us, and what will happen next?

Primary output

Software, systems, algorithms

Models, predictions, analyses

Core math

Discrete mathematics, logic, algorithms

Statistics, probability, linear algebra

Typical languages

C++, Java, Python

Python, R, SQL

Largest BLS occupation

Software developers: 1,717,800 jobs

Data scientists: 275,600 jobs

BLS median pay (May 2025)

$135,980 (software developers)

$120,230 (data scientists)

Projected growth 2025-35

10%

35%

 

CS vs DS: What Do They Stand For?

CS vs DS compares computer science (CS), the study of computation, software and algorithms, with data science (DS), the use of statistics and machine learning to extract insights and predictions from data. CS vs DS is the same comparison as computer science vs data science, and CS DS is a common shorthand for programs that combine the two.

CS and DS full form

The CS and DS full form is computer science (CS) and data science (DS). The full form of CS is computer science, and the full form of DS is data science, so CS vs DS means computer science vs data science.

DS degrees are the newer of the two, and undergraduate data science programs such as the South Dakota Mines Data Science & Engineering BS are built on computer science and statistics courses.

Is Data Science Computer Science?

Data science is partly computer science: data in computer science is something to store, structure and move efficiently, while data science treats data as evidence to model and interpret. Data in computer science lives in data structures, databases and file systems, and computer science courses teach how to store, search and process that data quickly. Is data science computer science? Data science borrows programming, databases and algorithms from computer science and adds statistics and domain knowledge, so it sits between computer science and statistics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects that overlap: it lists mathematics, statistics and computer science as the typical degree fields for data scientists. At South Dakota Mines, students who choose data science or computer science join the same department, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Data Science or Computer Science: Which Should You Choose?

Data science or computer science? Computer science suits those who enjoy creating software architecture, while data science appeals to those fascinated by patterns and predictions. Choose computer science if you want to build software, systems and algorithms. Choose data science if you want to use statistics and machine learning to find out what data means. Deciding between data science or computer science is easier with three questions:

  1. Do you prefer building or analyzing? Building software points to computer science. Analyzing data points to data science.
  2. Which math do you like? Algorithms and logic favor computer science. Statistics and probability favor data science.
  3. How wide do you want your options? Computer science feeds 1.7 million software developer jobs. Data science feeds 275,600 data scientist jobs that are growing 3.5 times faster (BLS, 2025 to 2035).

Data Science vs Computer Science Major

The data science vs computer science major comparison comes down to curriculum: a computer science major prioritizes theory and systems, covering algorithms, software engineering and computer architecture, while a data science major focuses on data analytics and modeling, emphasizing statistics and machine learning. Both majors share a first year of programming and calculus.

Data science vs computer science major at South Dakota Mines

 

Computer Science BS

Data Science & Engineering BS

Credits

130

120

Accreditation

ABET, Computing Accreditation Commission

Pursuing ABET, Engineering Accreditation Commission

Featured courses

Software Engineering; Data Structures and Algorithms; Database Management Systems; Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Introduction to Data Science; Data Engineering; Machine Learning; Computers in Society

Specializations

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Cybersecurity

Data engineering in the core curriculum

Department

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

 

Computer Scientist vs Data Scientist

A computer scientist designs algorithms, software and computing systems, while a data scientist uses statistics and machine learning to turn data into predictions and decisions. In the computer scientist vs data scientist comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics pays computer and information research scientists a $140,300 median (May 2025) against $120,230 for data scientists, but the research role typically requires a master's degree and data scientist roles start with a bachelor's.

Day to day, a computer scientist writes and reviews code, tests performance and ships software to production. A data scientist cleans data, trains and evaluates models, and explains the results to the people who will act on them.

Data Science vs Computer Science Salary

In the data science vs computer science salary comparison, computer science pays more at the median: BLS reports $135,980 for software developers and $140,300 for computer and information research scientists, against $120,230 for data scientists (May 2025). Data science vs computer science salary growth runs the other way, because data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% through 2035 against 10% for software developers.

For new graduates the gap is smaller. South Dakota Mines Computer Science graduates in the Class of 2025 reported a $74,487 average starting salary with 88% placement, and the school-wide average across all majors was $76,805.

Data Science vs Computer Science Job Opportunities

Data science vs computer science job opportunities differ in volume and speed: computer science feeds about 106,100 openings a year for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers, while data science feeds about 24,800 openings a year for data scientists (BLS, 2025 to 2035). Computer science offers more total jobs. Data science offers faster growth, at 35% against 10%.

Both degrees reach well beyond their namesake roles. Computer science graduates also work as cybersecurity analysts, cloud engineers and machine learning engineers. Data science graduates also work as data engineers, analysts and bioinformatics specialists.

Is Data Science Harder Than Computer Science?

Data science is harder than computer science for students who find statistics difficult, and computer science is harder for students who find abstract algorithms and systems theory difficult. Is data science harder than computer science by workload? At South Dakota Mines the Computer Science BS requires 130 credits and the Data Science & Engineering BS requires 120, so the data science degree carries fewer total credits.

Data science adds a difficulty computer science courses rarely have: real data is messy, and a large share of every data science project goes to cleaning it before any model is built.

Data Science vs Computer Science: Which Is Better?

Data science vs computer science: which is better depends on the job you want, because computer science offers more openings and higher median pay while data science offers faster growth. Computer science is the better choice for software engineering, cybersecurity and systems roles. Data science is the better choice for modeling, analytics and machine learning roles.

The safest choice for an undecided student is computer science with an AI and machine learning specialization, which keeps both paths open. A student who already knows they want to work with data gets there faster through a dedicated data science degree.

Studying Computer Science and Data Science at South Dakota Mines

South Dakota Mines offers both degrees in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The Computer Science BS is a 130-credit program accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, with specializations in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and in Cybersecurity. The Data Science & Engineering BS is a 120-credit program pursuing accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, with data engineering in its core curriculum.

Where graduates go. Mines computer science graduates work at Google, Garmin and Epic Systems, and Class of 2025 Computer Science graduates placed at 88% with a $74,487 average starting salary. Data science and engineering students have been hired by Google, Amazon Web Services, NASA, John Deere and GE HealthCare. Across all programs, the 2024-2025 First Destination Report puts South Dakota Mines at 94% placement, a $76,805 average starting salary, and 192 employers in 36 states.

Because both degrees share a department, students take early programming courses with the same faculty, and classes stay small enough that faculty know students by name. The campus is in Rapid City, South Dakota, in the Black Hills.

Explore the Computer Science BS program

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you switch from computer science to data science?

Yes. Computer science is one of the typical degree fields the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for data scientists, so a computer science graduate can move into data science by adding statistics and machine learning coursework or experience.

Q: Which pays more, computer science or data science?

Computer science pays more at the median. BLS reports $135,980 for software developers against $120,230 for data scientists (May 2025), while data scientist jobs are projected to grow faster, at 35% against 10% through 2035.

Q: Is data science a good major for artificial intelligence?

Yes, and so is computer science. Data science teaches the statistics and machine learning behind AI models, and the South Dakota Mines Computer Science BS offers a formal Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning specialization.

Q: Do you need a master's degree for data science?

No. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for data scientists. A master's helps for research roles, and computer and information research scientists typically need one.

Q: What is the difference between software engineering and data science?

Software engineering builds and maintains software systems, and data science extracts insights and predictions from data. Software developers earn a $135,980 median and data scientists $120,230 (BLS, May 2025).

Q: Does South Dakota Mines offer both computer science and data science?

Yes. South Dakota Mines offers a 130-credit, ABET-accredited Computer Science BS and a 120-credit Data Science & Engineering BS, both in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.