Best Computer Science Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
This page ranks the 17 Computer Science programs in North Carolina by median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. Duke University leads the list with median earnings of $195,809 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $195,809 to $36,164, with a median of $93,037.
Public institutions account for 14 of the 17 programs, alongside 3 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 | Program 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 ranks 1st on this list, reporting $195,809 in median earnings of Computer Science graduates four years after completing from a cohort of 370 graduates. | |||||
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $137,047 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| With an admission rate of 15%, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill posts $137,047 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $115,493 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University, a private nonprofit university in Winston-Salem, shows $115,493 in median earnings and a median federal debt of $20,549 among Computer Science completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $113,478 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports $113,478 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,303. | |||||
| 5 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $105,342 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| On Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, North Carolina A & T State University sits at 141st and ranks 5th on this list. | |||||
| 6 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $98,406 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University admits 89% of applicants and its Computer Science graduates earn a median of $98,406 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $97,670 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Computer Science completers who borrowed at Appalachian State University left with a median federal debt of $22,500 and earned a median of $97,670 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem, NC | $94,298 | $13,479 | $11,463 | 78.3% |
| Winston-Salem State University reports $94,298 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 17 graduates. | |||||
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $93,037 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranks 9th on this list, with median earnings of $93,037 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,435. | |||||
| 10 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $88,219 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| An average net price of $20,109 coincides with median earnings of $88,219 for Computer Science graduates of University of North Carolina Wilmington four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | 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 its Computer Science completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $22,147. | |||||
| 12 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $86,853 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University reports $86,853 in median earnings for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,315. | |||||
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $86,372 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro reports median earnings of $86,372 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,965. | |||||
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC | $80,579 | $10,260 | $7,919 | 93.3% |
| With an admission rate of 93%, University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranks 14th on this list and shows median earnings of $80,579 four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | Elizabeth City State University · Elizabeth City, NC | $68,723 | $6,364 | $4,246 | 64.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Elizabeth City State University left with a median of $21,463 in federal loans, and the school's Computer Science completers earned a median of $68,723 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Gardner-Webb University · Boiling Springs, NC | $68,175 | $17,674 | $15,304 | 77.2% |
| Gardner-Webb University, a private nonprofit university in Boiling Springs, posts an average net price of $17,674 and a median of $68,175 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | 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 median earnings of $36,164 for its Computer Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Computer Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in North Carolina appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 17 schools with a published figure. Duke University reports $195,809, and the gap to second-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $58,762.
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