Is working as a computer programmer economically rational for high performing black and hispanic students in the United States?<p>Black and hispanic students benefit from preferential admissions standards to medical, law, business and other graduate schools that can lead to higher salaries and higher social standing than computer programming.<p>Consider the extreme case of black students and medical school:<p>Black students who are competitive candidates for software engineering at top tech companies could (probably all) choose to study medicine and, very possibly, be admitted to specialist residency programs.<p>Average specialist pay is $284,000. Average primary care pay is $195,000.