Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 23 schools in North Carolina for Computer Science by median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. Duke University leads at $195,809, followed by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at $132,136 and Wake Forest University at $115,493.
The median across the listed schools is $84,462, with figures ranging from $195,809 to $36,164.
Public institutions account for 65% of the list, with 15 schools alongside 8 private nonprofits. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 50th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page. Elizabeth City State University posts the lowest average net price at $6,364.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Computer Science Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $195,809 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University reports $195,809 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing and admits just 6% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (370 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($195,809) | |||||
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $132,136 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| With an average net price of $2,004 for families earning under $30,000, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 50th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (432 graduates), Information Science/Studies (68 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($137,047), Information Science/Studies ($100,940) | |||||
| 3 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $115,493 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University posts a six-year completion rate of 89% and median earnings of $115,493 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($115,493) | |||||
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $113,478 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranks 4th on this list, with $113,478 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 42%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (281 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($113,478) | |||||
| 5 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $105,342 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| A public university in Greensboro, North Carolina A & T State University reports $105,342 four years after completing and an average net price of $10,846. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (76 graduates), Computer Science (57 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($105,342) | |||||
| 6 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $97,670 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Appalachian State University reports median earnings of $97,670 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing and admits 90% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($97,670) | |||||
| 7 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $94,553 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University ranks 180th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $94,553 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (52 graduates), Computer and Information Sciences, General (46 graduates), Information Science/Studies (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($98,406), Computer and Information Sciences, General ($90,197) | |||||
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $91,859 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| With an average net price of $10,357 for families earning under $30,000, University of North Carolina at Charlotte posts median earnings of $91,859 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (593 graduates), Computer and Information Sciences, General (79 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($93,037) | |||||
| 9 | University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC | $88,084 | $12,250 | $8,219 | 91.9% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville admits 92% of applicants and reports $88,084 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($88,084) | |||||
| 10 | North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC | $88,053 | $15,359 | $13,032 | 87.0% |
| North Carolina Central University ranks 10th on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 42% and median earnings of $88,053 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (20 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $86,853 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University reports $86,853 four years after completing and an average net price of $13,315. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($86,853) | |||||
| 12 | Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC | $84,462 | $13,479 | $11,463 | 78.3% |
| Winston-Salem State University ranks 223rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $84,462 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (17 graduates), Computer and Information Sciences, General (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($94,298), Computer and Information Sciences, General ($63,562) | |||||
| 13 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $83,059 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington reports $83,059 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $20,109. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (86 graduates), Computer and Information Sciences, General (40 graduates), Computer Software and Media Applications (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($88,219) | |||||
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $74,429 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 56%, University of North Carolina at Greensboro posts $74,429 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (109 graduates), Computer Science (56 graduates), Information Science/Studies (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($86,372), Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($68,293) | |||||
| 15 | Campbell University · Buies Creek, NC | $70,503 | $24,516 | $20,751 | 87.2% |
| Campbell University, a private nonprofit university in Buies Creek, admits 87% of applicants and shows $70,503 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (31 graduates), Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General ($71,497) | |||||
| 16 | Elizabeth City State University · Elizabeth City, NC | $68,723 | $6,364 | $4,246 | 64.2% |
| Elizabeth City State University carries the lowest average net price on this list at $6,364 and reports $68,723 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (13 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Gardner-Webb University · Boiling Springs, NC | $68,175 | $17,674 | $15,304 | 77.2% |
| Gardner-Webb University ranks 823rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and lists $68,175 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (22 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC | $66,559 | $10,260 | $7,919 | 93.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke admits 93% of applicants, and its Computer Science graduates earn a median of $66,559 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (29 graduates), Computer Science (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($80,579), Computer and Information Sciences, General ($53,022) | |||||
| 19 | Guilford College · Greensboro, NC | $65,823 | $22,270 | $18,367 | 80.0% |
| Guilford College reports an average net price of $18,367 for families earning under $30,000 and $65,823 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (8 graduates), Computer and Information Sciences, General (6 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | North Carolina Wesleyan University · Rocky Mount, NC | $53,598 | $17,432 | $16,114 | 80.2% |
| Graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan University earn a median of $53,598 four years after completing, and the school's six-year completion rate stands at 42%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General ($53,598) | |||||
| 21 | Livingstone College · Salisbury, NC | $41,458 | $13,479 | $13,860 | 59.3% |
| Livingstone College lists $41,458 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $13,479. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (9 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Johnson C Smith University · Charlotte, NC | $39,741 | $20,894 | $19,940 | 45.2% |
| Johnson C Smith University reports $39,741 in median earnings two years after completing and an average net price of $19,940 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer and Information Sciences, General (16 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC | $36,164 | $7,892 | $6,233 | 82.2% |
| Fayetteville State University ranks 275th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $36,164 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Science (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Science ($36,164) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Computer Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Computer Science earnings cohort in North Carolina appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked Duke University and second-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $63,673, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $159,645.
Job market context in North Carolina
Computer Science graduates in North Carolina enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Software Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, and Computer User Support Specialists. The median annual wage across those occupations is $109,132, though a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $83,778. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 9.9% higher, with 14,470 projected openings a year, or about 477 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing; the market figures describe the occupations, not any listed school's result.
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- Best Colleges in North Carolina
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