Computer and Information Sciences at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

UNC Pembroke's computer science graduates earn $45,532 in their first year—roughly $16,000 below the North Carolina median and $8,500 below even the state's 25th percentile mark. In a state where nearly every other CS program delivers stronger returns, this ranking should concern families. The program sits in the bottom quarter both statewide and nationally, trailing peer UNC system schools by substantial margins: Charlotte grads earn $15,000 more, and even Wilmington, the closest comparison, comes in $8,500 higher.

The $27,000 debt load matches the state median and stays reasonable relative to first-year earnings, which provides some cushion. Graduates do see earnings grow to $52,350 by year four, a solid 15% bump, but they're still playing catch-up to what peers earn right out of the gate elsewhere. For a family choosing between UNC Pembroke and other North Carolina public universities, the earnings gap persists across career stages—this isn't a slow-start program that eventually catches up.

If your child is committed to UNC Pembroke for location, cost, or campus culture reasons, the debt load won't bury them. But purely as a computer science investment, North Carolina offers significantly stronger options. East Carolina and Charlotte deliver $20,000+ higher starting salaries for similar debt, making the financial case difficult to justify unless other factors decisively favor Pembroke.