Computer and Information Sciences at Campbell University

Campbell's Computer Science program lands squarely in the middle—graduates earn $54,088 initially, matching North Carolina's median almost exactly while trailing the national median by about $7,000. The 18% earnings growth to $64,024 by year four shows healthy career progression, though you're still looking at compensation that places this program in the bottom third nationally. With a 94% admission rate and reasonable debt load at $25,000, this is an accessible option rather than a competitive one.

The practical math works: that 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would dedicate less than half their first-year salary to debt, which is manageable for a tech graduate. But context matters—other NC public universities like UNC Charlotte and East Carolina produce graduates earning $6,000-$15,000 more right out of the gate. That gap compounds over a career. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests this isn't a flagship program at Campbell, which traditionally focuses on pharmacy and law.

For a family prioritizing affordability and a supportive environment over maximum earning potential, this works—especially if your child benefits from Campbell's small classes and personal attention. But if your goal is to maximize return on investment in a computer science degree, North Carolina offers stronger public university alternatives at similar or lower cost.