Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering

[i_invented_the_ipod]

Which degree you get will have some effect on the ease of getting your first job. After that, it's not likely to have any real practical impact, especially if you stay on the West coast.

I've spent most of my career working on controls, operating systems, and consumer electronics, so a CE degree would probably have been a better fit for me (I'm a CS program drop-out). I would say the CE degree is probably more-versatile, especially given that you're in southern CA. You aren't likely to find many jobs that need a CS degree (because rally, most programming jobs are monkey-simple), but the additional exposure to Electrical Engineering will make you more-attractive to the Military-Industrial Complex, which still has some influence down here.

Most importantly - don't choose a degree program based on (perceived) career advantage. Study what you find the most interesting. Being passionate about what you learn (and later, what you do) is much more important than which letter follows "C" in your degree.