At Berkeley, the enrollment dip [in CS] has come from a supply-side constraint (alumni.berkeley.edu)

Enrollment in computer science (CS) programs at UC Berkeley has seen a notable shift, reflecting a broader national decline in CS education. While the UC system reported a 6 percent drop in CS enrollment for 2025, UC Berkeley’s numbers appear more complex. The university's CS degree has a projected steep decline from 1,029 graduates in 2025 to around 350 by 2027. However, when considering related programs like electrical engineering and data science—currently popular at Berkeley—overall enrollment grew by nearly 1,000 students during the same period. This divergence suggests that the decline in traditional CS majors may stem from supply-side constraints rather than a lack of interest; the admissions for CS specifically have been restricted due to rising instructional costs following labor rulings that increased teaching assistant pay. Despite these challenges, demand for CS programs remains strong, with applications up by nearly 25 percent from 2020 to 2025. Graduates are still finding success, with only 11 percent seeking employment six months post-graduation and reporting a median salary increase. However, the job landscape is changing, with AI technology automating entry-level coding roles, contributing to uncertainty about the future for tech employment. Berkeley’s EECS Chair, Jelani Nelson, emphasizes the importance of balancing student demand with the resources needed for quality education, indicating ongoing challenges in accommodating the growing interest within the field.