Most people that graduate with CS degrees took a few actual programming classes. The majority of the rest is a the same well-rounded classwork you took (English

Most people that graduate with CS degrees took a few actual programming classes. The majority of the rest is a the same well-rounded classwork you took (English, History, etc) and a lot of theory and mixed-theory/applications classes like AI, Operating Systems, Compilers etc. The practical real-world applications of those classes aren't 1:1 with their first job. I'm a frontend engineer and took 0 classes that are even remotely relevant to my day to day work. That said, foundation adds value. I can speak a common language with other engineers, including those that are completely different than my specialty. To suggest a persons degree is meaningless is just as nonsensical as saying being self-taught is meaningless. I've also worked with both prestigious graduates that can't program and self-taught brilliant programmers. However, they are exceptions to the rule. The only thing that doesn't indicate much is anecdata, which both of us have now provided. As an aside, your attitude towards entry-level programmers is likely similar to the attitude of senior programmers when you were entry-level. "Simple" is relative. You were undoubtedly a considerably worse programmer when you graduated as well, assuming your current title was earned through merit. Perspective.