Computer Science at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State delivers strong outcomes at a reasonable price point for computer science graduates. With first-year earnings of $85,809 climbing to nearly $99,000 by year four, this program outperforms 80% of both national and in-state competitors—a rare achievement for a public university that costs substantially less than Duke ($133,356) while delivering outcomes well above UNC Chapel Hill's $90,293. The $21,073 median debt is also below state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25 that grads can realistically manage.

The 15% earnings growth over four years suggests these graduates are advancing steadily rather than plateauing early. Given NC State's 40% acceptance rate and strong technical reputation in the Research Triangle, this represents accessible entry into a high-performing program. The combination of above-average starting salaries, manageable debt, and solid career trajectory makes this a particularly smart choice for in-state students paying reduced tuition.

For families weighing options, NC State offers roughly 85% of Duke's outcomes at a fraction of the cost, with notably better results than most other NC public universities. The robust sample size means these figures are reliable, not an outlier year.