Best Data Scientist programs in North Carolina, ranked by enrollment
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software.
102 schools in North Carolina run programs that feed this job, graduating 14,341 people a year. The job pays a median of $119,090 in North Carolina across about 11,430 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in North Carolina that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
26 programs in North Carolina that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in North Carolina (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own North Carolina page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 11.0103In North Carolina → | 6,176 | 43.1% | 69 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 2 | CIP 11.0701In North Carolina → | 3,741 | 26.1% | 24 | $70,374 | $23,250 |
| 3 | CIP 52.1301In North Carolina → | 1,981 | 13.8% | 11 | $62,069 | $23,500 |
| 4 | CIP 27.0101In North Carolina → | 570 | 4.0% | 39 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 5 | CIP 45.0603In North Carolina → | 530 | 3.7% | 9 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 6 | CIP 27.0501In North Carolina → | 280 | 2.0% | 5 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 7 | CIP 27.0301In North Carolina → | 218 | 1.5% | 5 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 8 | Data Science, Generalmain feeder CIP 30.7001In North Carolina → | 169 | 1.2% | 10 | — | — |
| 9 | CIP 11.0802In North Carolina → | 166 | 1.2% | 5 | $33,504 | $27,000 |
| 10 | CIP 30.7104In North Carolina → | 145 | 1.0% | 3 | — | — |
| 11 | CIP 26.1103In North Carolina → | 60 | 0.4% | 3 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 12 | CIP 27.0305In North Carolina → | 51 | 0.4% | 3 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 13 | CIP 11.0102In North Carolina → | 45 | 0.3% | 5 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 14 | CIP 52.1302In North Carolina → | 45 | 0.3% | 2 | $62,069 | $23,500 |
| 15 | CIP 27.0502In North Carolina → | 33 | 0.2% | 3 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 16 | CIP 30.7101In North Carolina → | 26 | 0.2% | 4 | — | — |
| 17 | CIP 30.3901In North Carolina → | 21 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
| 18 | CIP 30.7102In North Carolina → | 19 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
| 19 | CIP 27.0601In North Carolina → | 14 | 0.1% | 2 | — | — |
| 20 | CIP 26.1199In North Carolina → | 11 | 0.1% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 21 | CIP 27.9999In North Carolina → | 11 | 0.1% | 1 | $59,063 | $21,500 |
| 22 | CIP 30.0801In North Carolina → | 10 | 0.1% | 1 | $89,651 | $23,175 |
| 23 | Computational Sciencemain feeder CIP 30.3001In North Carolina → | 7 | 0.0% | 2 | $50,745 | $27,000 |
| 24 | CIP 27.0303In North Carolina → | 7 | 0.0% | 1 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 25 | CIP 30.7199In North Carolina → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 26 | CIP 27.0399In North Carolina → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
Top 25 schools in North Carolina
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 26 of the 102 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · 10 feeder programs | 1,771 | Computer Science | $67,704 | 69% | — | 80% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 8 feeder programs | 1,767 | Management Science | — | 91% | — | 15% |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · 12 feeder programs | 1,670 | Computer Science | $85,809 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 4 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 1,572 | Information Technology | $55,264 | 33% | — | — |
| 5 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 852 | Computer Science | $133,356 | 97% | $16,260 | 6% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC Public · 7 feeder programs | 567 | Management Science | — | 71% | — | 64% |
| 7 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 468 | Information Technology | $32,154 | 24% | — | — |
| 8 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 378 | Information Technology | $40,854 | 31% | — | — |
| 9 | Rowan - Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 337 | Information Technology | $34,853 | 35% | — | — |
| 10 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 327 | Information Technology | $38,837 | 34% | — | — |
| 11 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 277 | Management Science | — | 89% | $20,914 | 22% |
| 12 | Davidson - Davie Community College Thomasville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 254 | Information Technology | $36,168 | 46% | — | — |
| 13 | Wayne Community College Goldsboro, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 241 | Information Technology | — | 49% | — | — |
| 14 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · 5 feeder programs | 227 | Computer Science | $81,174 | 57% | — | 50% |
| 15 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 222 | Computer Science | $68,675 | 75% | — | 90% |
| 16 | Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 222 | Information Technology | $41,027 | 40% | — | — |
| 17 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · 7 feeder programs | 207 | Computer Science | $65,958 | 63% | — | 89% |
| 18 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · 9 feeder programs | 207 | Computer Science | $67,781 | 56% | — | 89% |
| 19 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 149 | Information Technology | $36,227 | 31% | — | — |
| 20 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 137 | Information Technology | — | 37% | — | — |
| 21 | Elon University Elon, NC Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 134 | Management Science | — | 84% | $33,688 | 66% |
| 22 | Pitt Community College Winterville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 105 | Information Technology | — | 35% | — | — |
| 23 | Davidson College Davidson, NC Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 104 | Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | $70,785 | 91% | $16,628 | 13% |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 94 | Information Technology | — | 49% | — | — |
| 25 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 93 | Information Technology | — | 34% | — | — |
All 102 schools in North Carolina
Every school in North Carolina with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | 1,771 | 10 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 1,767 | 8 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh | Public | 1,670 | 12 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Public | 1,572 | 2 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private not-for-profit | 852 | 10 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 567 | 7 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Public | 468 | 1 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Public | 378 | 2 |
| Rowan - Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | Public | 337 | 1 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | Public | 327 | 1 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 277 | 9 |
| Davidson - Davie Community College | Thomasville | Public | 254 | 1 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Public | 241 | 2 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 227 | 5 |
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | 222 | 3 |
What data scientists earn in North Carolina
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $120,230. North Carolina pays below the national figure.
Concentrated here: North Carolina employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in North Carolina
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Data Scientists page.
How to become a Data Scientist
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in North Carolina
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Data Scientists25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 11.0102Artificial Intelligence
- 11.0103Information Technology
- 11.0701Computer Science
- 11.0802Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- 11.0804Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- 26.1103Bioinformatics
- 26.1104Computational Biology
- 26.1199Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other
- 27.0101Mathematics, General
- 27.0301Applied Mathematics, General
- 27.0303Computational Mathematics
- 27.0304Computational and Applied Mathematics
- 27.0305Financial Mathematics
- 27.0306Mathematical Biology
- 27.0399Applied Mathematics, Other
- 27.0501Statistics, General
- 27.0502Mathematical Statistics and Probability
- 27.0503Mathematics and Statistics
- 27.0601Applied Statistics, General
- 27.9999Mathematics and Statistics, Other
- 30.0801Mathematics and Computer Science
- 30.3001Computational Science
- 30.3901Economics and Computer Science
- 30.4801Linguistics and Computer Science
- 30.7001Data Science, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing data scientists programs in North Carolina.
What degree do you need to become a Data Scientist?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Information Technology, which awarded 6,176 degrees in North Carolina in 2024-25, 43.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Data Scientist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 26 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer and Information Sciences, Computer Science, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Mathematics, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 14,341 people a year in North Carolina.
How much do data scientists earn in North Carolina?+
The median is $119,090 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 0.9% below the U.S. median of $120,230. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for data scientists growing?+
BLS projects a +33.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 23,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in North Carolina?+
102 institutions in North Carolina reported graduates from at least one of the 26 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do data scientists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Intelligence Analyst, Clinical Data Manager, Data Management Manager, Market Intelligence Consultant, Competitive Intelligence Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst (BI Analyst) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-2051.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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