Amazon donates $3M to Seattle-area colleges to support computer science degrees – GeekWire

Amazon is donating $3 million to Seattle-area schools to bolster their laptop science systems.

Bellevue College, found east of Seattle, will obtain $1.5 million more than a few years to guidance its bachelor’s of science in personal computer science. There are 155 undergraduates now enrolled in the diploma program, which launched in 2017. The gift will improve money guidance for enrolled learners and faculty outreach to K-12 learners.

The Seattle College or university Foundation will also get $1.5 million to assistance fund its recently released bachelor’s of arts in laptop science. This tumble, North Seattle College or university admitted its initially class of 20 pupils pursuing the degree.

Amazon beforehand donated $1 million to the hard work, which assisted fund the employing and education of a direct school member.

“At Amazon, we know the importance of accessibility to computer system science instruction. This expenditure will enable remove limitations traditionally underneath-resourced populations have confronted and offer higher possibility for local students to go after careers in the technology sector,” reported Victor Reinoso, world-wide director of Amazon’s philanthropic schooling initiatives, in asserting the Seattle Higher education Foundation present.

The colleges acquiring funding from Amazon offer a less pricey route to tech degrees in comparison to universities and typically achieve a more racially and ethnically varied student entire body.

Laptop science levels are in substantial demand from customers from learners in Washington condition. The nationally rated Paul G. Allen Faculty of Computer system Science & Engineering at the College of Washington accepts about 7% of the immediate candidates to its undergraduate software. The UW department campuses and other universities also offer you well-liked computer science degree packages.

Bellevue College or university is the only Washington university so much to present a bachelor’s of science in the area. Tuition at the colleges is substantially significantly less, in basic, than at the universities. The once-a-year in-point out tuition and costs for a laptop or computer science pupil at Bellevue Higher education is $7,266 as opposed to $12,076 per year at the UW.

Educators assume the demand from customers for computer science levels to carry on increasing, driven in section by superior wages and employment opportunities.

Washington condition has 333,000 tech work, which include roles requiring tech skills and a wide range of work opportunities at tech businesses, in accordance to a 2022 report from the Computing Technological innovation Industry Affiliation (CompTIA). Staff particularly in tech roles experienced a median income of $124,653 — an income 147% larger than the point out median.