I'll probably hire you with a CS degree, but I know I'm going to need to teach you how to be a software engineer.
You basically do 4 years of math and physics with several years of calculus, differential equations, numerical methods, programming, and solving difficult problems. It is nothing like a trade school (no offense to that line of work...they probably make more money than me :)).
If you want a pure CS, usually it is a maths degree with major in computing.
This afternoon I met someone in lunch line that had just graduated in CS who said they tried to do EE but couldn't do it. I've seen others when I was in school drop out of EE to do CS.
Clearly both fields are equally complex and challenging, but I got the sense there's something particularly asymmetric and grueling about the EE curriculum.
I went to a state school and went CS, though I had several friends in ECE (electrical and computer engineering). The difference between the classes we took is largely summed up in:
* They took more math and physics than I did.
* They had fewer CS electives than I had.
* I had more 'breadth requirements' outside of of the core major than they did
* They had to maintain a much higher GPA to remain in the engineering college
* They had classes that involved a soldering iron and hours spent in front of mentor graphics (to the point it was nicknamed 'tormentor graphics')
The EE/ECE curriculum may have changed since then. It probably has. However, (at least at my alma mater) the engineering college is still as selective as always while the CS department unanimously voted that they won't cap enrollment (and instead figure out how to get larger lecture halls and more sections as needed).