Computer Science at East Carolina University

East Carolina's computer science program occupies an interesting middle ground in North Carolina's competitive tech landscape. Starting salaries of $66K trail NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill significantly—both state schools that may offer similar in-state tuition—but the $27K in debt is quite manageable, with graduates owing just five months' salary. That's well below both national and state averages for debt burden, meaning students leave with breathing room other programs don't provide.

The 40th percentile ranking among NC computer science programs tells the real story: this isn't where you go to maximize Day One earnings. However, the 23% earnings jump to $81K by year four suggests solid career progression, and that low debt load means graduates aren't choosing jobs solely to service loans. For families prioritizing the state's flagship programs, the $10-15K salary gap at graduation might justify the comparison shopping. But for students who prefer ECU's environment or need the high admission rate, the financial downside is limited.

The practical question: is saving potentially $5-10K per year in tuition (versus out-of-state alternatives) worth earning $5-10K less annually after graduation? Given how quickly that debt compounds, and that ECU's CS grads still clear $65K immediately, this program works as a financially prudent choice—just not the optimal one if your child can access NC State or UNC-Chapel Hill at similar cost.