Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina Central University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,597, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Wayne Community College and Johnston Community College award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in North Carolina: 248, 241 and 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 81 North Carolina colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 6,382 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,597 | 38 | 42% | — | $31,375 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,442 | 50 | 63% | — | $26,923 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,639 | 248 | 69% | — | $22,153 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,105 | 60 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,532 | 30 | 44% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | North Carolina Wesleyan University Rocky Mount Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,142 | 29 | 42% | $18,905 | $22,186 |
| 7 | Strayer University - North Carolina Greensboro Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $67,315 | 72 | 33% | — | $50,737 |
| 8 | Campbell University Buies Creek Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $54,088 | 16 | 61% | $23,331 | $25,000 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,819 | 9 | 47% | — | — |
| 10 | Johnson C Smith University Charlotte Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,621 | 17 | 34% | $21,563 | $31,000 |
Top 9 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh Public · Certificate | $55,264 | 1,430 | 33% | — | $14,778 |
| 2 | Durham Technical Community College Durham Public · Certificate | $46,966 | 67 | 45% | — | $10,208 |
| 3 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville Public · Associate degree | $41,027 | 222 | 40% | — | — |
| 4 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public · Associate degree | $40,854 | 378 | 31% | — | $10,456 |
| 5 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public · Associate degree | $38,837 | 327 | 34% | — | $9,707 |
| 6 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Public · Certificate | $36,227 | 149 | 31% | — | $20,000 |
| 7 | Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville Public · Certificate | $36,168 | 254 | 46% | — | $12,625 |
| 8 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury Public · Certificate | $34,853 | 337 | 35% | — | $8,609 |
| 9 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville Public · Certificate | $32,154 | 468 | 24% | — | $15,499 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 248 | $60,639 |
| 2 | Wayne Community College Goldsboro Public | 241 | Not reported |
| 3 | Johnston Community College Smithfield Public | 137 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pitt Community College Winterville Public | 105 | Not reported |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 6 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 91 | Not reported |
| 7 | Cleveland Community College Shelby Public | 86 | Not reported |
| 8 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington Public | 81 | Not reported |
| 9 | Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro Public | 72 | Not reported |
| 10 | Craven Community College New Bern Public | 68 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 71 North Carolina colleges offering Computer and Information Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221).
Top skills
What Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (248 graduates a year), Wayne Community College (241 graduates a year) and Johnston Community College (137 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 81 North Carolina colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina Central University leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,597, College Scorecard. East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest, with 248 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information Sciences program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina Central University tops the list at $74,597. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in North Carolina is $136,080 (median $128,370), across about 600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computer and Information Sciences program?+
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Computer and Information Research Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +19.7% growth with around 3,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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