Computer Science at University of North Carolina Wilmington

UNCW's computer science program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—both nationally and within North Carolina. Graduates earn $66,977 in their first year, slightly below the national median of $70,950 and nearly identical to North Carolina's median of $67,704. This places it around the 40th percentile among NC computer science programs, trailing not just elite schools like Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, but also NC State and NC A&T by noticeable margins.

The financial fundamentals are solid, though unremarkable. With $24,819 in debt against first-year earnings, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is manageable, and the 21% earnings growth to $80,714 by year four shows healthy career progression. For an accessible school with a 74% admission rate, these outcomes represent dependable entry into the tech sector rather than a fast track to high-paying roles.

The question for your family is whether this middle-ground option makes strategic sense. If your child can get into NC State (which costs roughly the same in-state but pays nearly $19,000 more in year one), that's the clear winner. But if UNCW is the most competitive CS program offering admission, it provides a functional pathway into technology careers without crushing debt. You're paying for reliability, not competitive advantage.