University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for computer science in North Carolina.
What is Computer Science?
North Carolina is well-known for its production of tobacco. It also produces chemicals, electronics, and computer products. Real estate, insurance, and finance organizations also make their home in this state and are included in the top industries.
Being right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the state leads in commercial fishing, catching flounder, blue crabs, shrimp, and clams. To top it all off, the state’s highest-earning industry is manufacturing ($11.7 billion).
Computer science is a good fit for any industry in North Carolina. Students planning to earn a computer science degree in North Carolina can both attend school and find work in the state. Computer science is vital in all areas of the country and across the world, and graduates benefit from earning these degrees partly because of the wide variety of industries and careers they gain access to.
Computer science professionals have many different skills. They may have learned how to create software, or improve it, so that it helps organizations function more efficiently. They can work as support staff when just starting out, IT project managers, and even work their way into the C-suites after a long, successful career.
Today, tech professionals and cyber security professionals are in constant demand, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and organizations to close their doors, increasing the number of people working and attending classes online.
Professionals in this field can work on software or hardware systems, intra-networks, support, management positions, as consultants, with database management firms, and more.
Featured Computer Science Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Score: 92.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,805
- Out-of-State:$65,805
- Net Price: $23,694
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 18,023
- Undergrad Students: 6,640
- Graduate Students: 11,383
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Score: 83.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,989
- Out-of-State:$39,330
- Net Price: $10,614
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 31,705
- Undergrad Students: 20,029
- Graduate Students: 11,676
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Score: 81.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,895
- Out-of-State:$31,767
- Net Price: $14,852
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 36,700
- Undergrad Students: 26,254
- Graduate Students: 10,446
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Wake Forest University
Score: 80.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,758
- Out-of-State:$64,758
- Net Price: $26,197
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 8,963
- Undergrad Students: 5,447
- Graduate Students: 3,516
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Davidson College
Score: 79.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,300
- Out-of-State:$60,300
- Net Price: $26,704
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 1,927
- Undergrad Students: 1,927
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
North Carolina A&T State University
Score: 71.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,748
- Out-of-State:$20,408
- Net Price: $9,189
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 13,487
- Undergrad Students: 11,833
- Graduate Students: 1,654
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Score: 69.98
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,214
- Out-of-State:$21,876
- Net Price: $13,951
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 29,551
- Undergrad Students: 23,461
- Graduate Students: 6,090
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Appalachian State University
Score: 68.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,541
- Out-of-State:$24,537
- Net Price: $13,084
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 20,436
- Undergrad Students: 18,558
- Graduate Students: 1,878
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Score: 67.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,317
- Out-of-State:$22,985
- Net Price: $18,709
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 17,843
- Undergrad Students: 14,294
- Graduate Students: 3,549
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
East Carolina University
Score: 66.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,361
- Out-of-State:$23,638
- Net Price: $14,410
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 27,151
- Undergrad Students: 21,688
- Graduate Students: 5,463
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Meredith College
Score: 66.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,936
- Out-of-State:$43,936
- Net Price: $23,259
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 1,587
- Undergrad Students: 1,322
- Graduate Students: 265
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Winston-Salem State University
Score: 66.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,735
- Out-of-State:$17,391
- Net Price: $14,097
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 5,004
- Undergrad Students: 4,513
- Graduate Students: 491
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Western Carolina University
Score: 64.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,532
- Out-of-State:$8,532
- Net Price: $13,022
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 11,635
- Undergrad Students: 9,956
- Graduate Students: 1,679
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Elon University
Score: 64.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,536
- Out-of-State:$44,536
- Net Price: $41,527
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 7,123
- Undergrad Students: 6,337
- Graduate Students: 786
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Elizabeth City State University
Score: 63.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,412
- Out-of-State:$7,412
- Net Price: $4,120
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 2,149
- Undergrad Students: 2,033
- Graduate Students: 116
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Score: 63.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,593
- Out-of-State:$23,339
- Net Price: $10,979
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 17,978
- Undergrad Students: 14,198
- Graduate Students: 3,780
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Fayetteville State University
Score: 61.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,969
- Out-of-State:$7,969
- Net Price: $6,355
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 6,787
- Undergrad Students: 5,748
- Graduate Students: 1,039
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Score: 61.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,461
- Out-of-State:$24,809
- Net Price: $14,730
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 2,914
- Undergrad Students: 2,914
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $58,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Catawba College
Score: 61.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,400
- Out-of-State:$33,400
- Net Price: $19,701
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 1,172
- Undergrad Students: 1,094
- Graduate Students: 78
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Johnson C. Smith University
Score: 60.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,480
- Out-of-State:$20,480
- Net Price: $20,045
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 1,093
- Undergrad Students: 1,052
- Graduate Students: 41
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Score: 59.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,900
- Out-of-State:$30,900
- Net Price: $21,843
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 2,354
- Undergrad Students: 1,529
- Graduate Students: 825
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Mount Olive
Score: 59.58
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,950
- Out-of-State:$25,950
- Net Price: $17,878
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 2,239
- Undergrad Students: 2,019
- Graduate Students: 220
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
North Carolina Central University
Score: 59.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,542
- Out-of-State:$19,578
- Net Price: $13,708
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 7,553
- Undergrad Students: 5,634
- Graduate Students: 1,919
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Bennett College
Score: 58.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,140
- Out-of-State:$19,140
- Net Price: $20,545
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 19%
- Total Enrollment: 168
- Undergrad Students: 168
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Score: 58.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,571
- Out-of-State:$7,571
- Net Price: $8,208
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 7,666
- Undergrad Students: 5,643
- Graduate Students: 2,023
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
