Best Computer Science Programs in North Carolina (2026)
If you're choosing a Computer Science program in North Carolina, the right school depends as much on cost and graduation rate as it does on rankings. The schools below are ranked by a combination of CS program strength, graduate earnings, and net price — using federal data, not marketing.
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#1
Duke University
Durham, NC
Net Price
$23,706/yr
Median Earnings
$113,937
Grad Rate
96%
Computer Science Share
10.8%
#2
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Net Price
$28,165/yr
Median Earnings
$104,443
Grad Rate
90%
Computer Science Share
3.5%
#3
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Net Price
$15,060/yr
Median Earnings
$89,297
Grad Rate
91%
Computer Science Share
6.9%
#4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Net Price
$11,305/yr
Median Earnings
$81,094
Grad Rate
91%
Computer Science Share
9.1%
#5
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$16,486/yr
Median Earnings
$77,810
Grad Rate
85%
Computer Science Share
5.6%
#6
Elon University
Elon, NC
Net Price
$35,785/yr
Median Earnings
$82,524
Grad Rate
83%
Computer Science Share
2.6%
#7
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Net Price
$15,142/yr
Median Earnings
$63,486
Grad Rate
69%
Computer Science Share
15.2%
#8
High Point University
High Point, NC
Net Price
$41,019/yr
Median Earnings
$73,547
Grad Rate
73%
Computer Science Share
2.3%
#9
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Net Price
$19,570/yr
Median Earnings
$61,019
Grad Rate
71%
Computer Science Share
4.7%
#10
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Net Price
$16,082/yr
Median Earnings
$57,488
Grad Rate
73%
Computer Science Share
2.9%
#11
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
Net Price
$22,801/yr
Median Earnings
$54,417
Grad Rate
71%
Computer Science Share
4.0%
#12
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
Net Price
$16,880/yr
Median Earnings
$60,387
Grad Rate
63%
Computer Science Share
3.1%
#13
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC
Net Price
$25,057/yr
Median Earnings
$59,026
Grad Rate
60%
Computer Science Share
6.5%
#14
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$12,291/yr
Median Earnings
$53,402
Grad Rate
57%
Computer Science Share
7.4%
#15
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$9,884/yr
Median Earnings
$50,279
Grad Rate
57%
Computer Science Share
8.9%
#16
Montreat College
Montreat, NC
Net Price
$25,095/yr
Median Earnings
$53,114
Grad Rate
47%
Computer Science Share
13.9%
#17
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Net Price
$13,025/yr
Median Earnings
$53,764
Grad Rate
61%
Computer Science Share
1.3%
#18
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Net Price
$18,641/yr
Median Earnings
$54,752
Grad Rate
49%
Computer Science Share
3.7%
#19
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC
Net Price
$14,999/yr
Median Earnings
$50,562
Grad Rate
53%
Computer Science Share
3.2%
#20
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
Net Price
$21,150/yr
Median Earnings
$53,543
Grad Rate
51%
Computer Science Share
1.9%
#21
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC
Net Price
$22,813/yr
Median Earnings
$52,803
Grad Rate
44%
Computer Science Share
7.2%
#22
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC
Net Price
$18,927/yr
Median Earnings
$54,851
Grad Rate
47%
Computer Science Share
3.7%
#23
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Rocky Mount, NC
Net Price
$20,318/yr
Median Earnings
$49,264
Grad Rate
43%
Computer Science Share
9.1%
#24
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC
Net Price
$22,696/yr
Median Earnings
$54,743
Grad Rate
41%
Computer Science Share
5.5%
#25
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
Net Price
$15,993/yr
Median Earnings
$52,260
Grad Rate
48%
Computer Science Share
1.6%
Why a Computer Science degree?
Computer Science remains one of the highest-ROI bachelor's degrees in the U.S. AI-related roles are growing 143% year-over-year, and the wage premium for CS skills is widening, not narrowing.
Common career paths: Software Engineer · Data Scientist · AI/ML Engineer · Cybersecurity Analyst · Product Manager
Typical starting salary range: $85,000–$135,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in North Carolina
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