15 Computer Science colleges in North Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,396.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 15 Computer Science programs made the cut.
Duke University leads the rankings, producing Computer Science graduates earning $97,800 while maintaining an 84th percentile mobility score. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill follows at $72,200 with 95th percentile mobility. Average graduate earnings reach $54,396—proving schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serves 20% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $72,200. Even better: graduates face just a 2.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Duke University delivers similar results with 1.3% burden. Access AND affordability.
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $97,800 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent | 84th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $72,200 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Excellent | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $68,758 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Excellent | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $57,289 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Good | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $55,146 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Good | 92th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $54,967 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,737 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $51,836 | $20,231 | Excellent | $21,919 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $49,458 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Good | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $48,160 | $22,858 | Excellent | $14,638 | Good | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $45,344 | $25,000 | Excellent | $12,030 | Excellent | 84th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $44,440 | $27,000 | Excellent | $20,004 | Good | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $44,030 | $20,500 | Excellent | $20,305 | Good | 72th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $43,407 | $25,000 | Excellent | $10,984 | Good | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $42,968 | $28,250 | Excellent | $19,245 | Good | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $40,144 | $22,987 | Challenging | $8,791 | High | 80th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
