Compare 17 Computer Science. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $81,356.
With top graduates earning $159,845, Computer Science stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $78K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Duke University's Computer Science program leads with graduates earning $159,845, while the state average sits at $81,356. But Wake Forest ($114,622) and UNC Chapel Hill ($107,225) demonstrate that strong outcomes span different institutional types—reinforcing that program quality varies independently of school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Duke graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 1.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.08, graduates can clear their student loans with barely three months of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $159,845 | 339 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #2 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $114,622 | 45 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #3 | $107,225 | 379 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $98,925 | 232 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #5 | $90,983 | 61 | $22,858 | Excellent | $14,638 | Excellent | |
| #6 | $84,108 | 71 | $20,231 | Excellent | $21,919 | Good | |
| #7 | $82,583 | 539 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Good | |
| #8 | $82,447 | 11 | $25,000 | Excellent | $10,984 | Good | |
| #9 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $81,246 | 63 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Good |
| #10 | $80,714 | 85 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,737 | Good | |
| #11 | $79,296 | 43 | $20,500 | Excellent | $20,305 | Good | |
| #12 | $68,666 | 37 | $27,000 | Good | $20,004 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $59,761 | 15 | $25,000 | Good | $12,030 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $53,775 | 12 | $21,868 | Good | $18,241 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $48,193 | 21 | $22,987 | Manageable | $8,791 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $45,696 | 9 | $21,463 | Manageable | $10,645 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Gardner-Webb UniversityPrivate | $44,971 | 19 | $24,222 | Manageable | $19,524 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
