Computer and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University's computer science graduates earn significantly more than their peers—outperforming 80% of NC programs and 82% nationally with first-year earnings of $74,597. That's $20,000 above the state median and $13,000 above the national median for this degree. Only East Carolina and Strayer graduates earn more in North Carolina. For a university that serves a majority first-generation and low-income population (57% on Pell grants), these outcomes are particularly noteworthy.

The debt burden of $31,375 sits slightly above national and state medians, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates should be able to manage repayment comfortably. Tech employers in the Research Triangle clearly value these graduates, and the relatively high median suggests this isn't just a few outliers landing FAANG jobs—though with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, individual outcomes can swing the numbers.

The small sample size is the main caveat here. With an 90% admission rate and modest SAT scores, NCCU is accessible to students who might not get into more selective programs, yet the earnings data suggests they're preparing graduates well for the tech job market. If your child is considering NC schools for computer science and can handle the uncertainty of limited data, this program deserves serious attention.