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 the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, 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 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, and admits 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 a six-year completion rate of 91%, 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 median earnings of $115,493 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $28,719. | |||||
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% |
| Ranking 4th on this list, North Carolina State University at Raleigh shows an admission rate of 42% and a six-year completion rate of 85%. | |||||
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% |
| North Carolina A & T State University reports $105,342 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, with 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% |
| Graduating 75% of its students within six years, Appalachian State University ranks 320th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
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 admits 89% of applicants and reports median earnings of $94,553 for its 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% |
| Ranking 8th on this list, University of North Carolina at Charlotte posts an average net price of $15,435 and a six-year completion rate of 69%. | |||||
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 reports median earnings of $88,084 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, and admits 92% of applicants. | |||||
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% |
| With an admission rate of 87%, North Carolina Central University ranks 332nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
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 posts an average net price of $13,315 and median earnings of $86,853 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
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% |
| Ranking 12th on this list, Winston-Salem State University shows a six-year completion rate of 47% and an admission rate of 78%. | |||||
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 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 71%. | |||||
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 an average net price of $10,965, University of North Carolina at Greensboro admits 89% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 56%. | |||||
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, ranks 862nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $70,503 for its 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 posts the lowest average net price on the page at $6,364, alongside a 64% admission rate. | |||||
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 reports median earnings of $68,175 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 55%. | |||||
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 ranks 1268th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $22,270. | |||||
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% |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University reports median earnings of $53,598 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 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 admits 59% of applicants and reports an average net price of $13,860 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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 median earnings of $39,741 for its Computer Science graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 34%. | |||||
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 an average net price of $7,892. | |||||
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, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. 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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