In many high schools across the country, students aren’t learning computer science because it isn’t considered a math or science course. Instead, students are opting for less challenging courses that give leeway to the curriculum that counts toward their diploma. However, colleges offering a computer science degree is rapidly growing.

One California university recently announced a degree in computer engineering information is now the most popular degree offered at the school. Since the 2000-2001 school year, 25 percent more students declared their major in computer science. With rapid and continual growth in technology services, it only makes sense the major would be on the rise. To top it off, a computer software developer can make upwards of $90,000 a year in the field.

This disconnect between computer science college degrees and high school CS preparation could be assisted by slowly introducing youth to computer science throughout their K-12 education, which may prompt even more students to look into the career field. Schools hoping to implement their own computer science programs may want to introduce their students to software like Java, a leading interactive software that is widely used in online applications. Currently the difficulty of the software is likely pushing kids away, as well as the lack of teachers in the field who can appropriately interpret the information.

“Many kids come to high school without any experience in computer science, especially in lower resource schools,” says Jan Cuny of the National Science Foundation. “They’re not really ready to take a year-long course in Java.”

According to Time Magazine, there is a shortage of highly skilled workers in the field and top executives are fighting over the top talent. One company has even proposed building an on-the-water business that allows international workers to beat the H-1B visa cap. The 1,800-person floating city would allow entrepreneurial foreigners to work for American businesses since it technically does not occupy U.S. territory.