45 Best Computer Science schools in North Carolina

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North Carolina ranked based on their research performance in Computer Science. A graph of 13.5M citations received by 342K academic papers made by 45 universities in North Carolina was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Computer Science

#29 in the United States

#31 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Computer Science

#36 in the United States

#39 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#55 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#113 in the United States

#132 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#145 in the United States

#169 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 72%

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#189 in the United States

#217 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

7. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Computer Science

#190 in the United States

#219 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

8. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#296 in the United States

#333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

9. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Computer Science

#310 in the United States

#348 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

10. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Computer Science

#315 in the United States

#353 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Computer Science

#370 in the United States

#413 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

12. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Computer Science

#496 in the United States

#545 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 96%

13. Davidson College

Davidson

For Computer Science

#516 in the United States

#566 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,510

14. Elon University

Elon

For Computer Science

#530 in the United States

#580 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1224
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $41,849

15. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Computer Science

#566 in the United States

#617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $31,503
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $18,206

16. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Computer Science

#583 in the United States

#637 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,008
Enrollment: 7,630

17. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#655 in the United States

#716 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 16
Receiving Aid: 96%

18. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#692 in the United States

#753 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,620

19. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Computer Science

#699 in the United States

#760 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 950
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 95%

20. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Computer Science

#700 in the United States

#761 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

21. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#744 in the United States

#808 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,178

22. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Computer Science

#747 in the United States

#811 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $24,517
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,413

23. High Point University

High Point

For Computer Science

#788 in the United States

#853 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $43,578

24. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Computer Science

#868 in the United States

#936 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,786

25. Wingate University

Wingate

For Computer Science

#916 in the United States

#986 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,464

26. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#1038 in the United States

#1112 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Net Price: $19,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,743

27. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#1048 in the United States

#1123 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $19,783
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,676

28. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

For Computer Science

#1075 in the United States

#1150 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $21,402
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,458

29. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#1090 in the United States

#1165 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $19,326
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,883

30. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#1097 in the United States

#1172 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $23,405

31. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Computer Science

#1120 in the United States

#1195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 2,165

32. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Computer Science

#1138 in the United States

#1213 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,042
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $33,874

33. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Computer Science

#1166 in the United States

#1241 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,913
Receiving Aid: 99%

34. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Computer Science

#1236 in the United States

#1311 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1098
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,319

35. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#1274 in the United States

#1349 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1197
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,000

36. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Computer Science

#1300 in the United States

#1375 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $17,893
Receiving Aid: 100%

37. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Computer Science

#1344 in the United States

#1422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,035

38. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

For Computer Science

#1359 in the United States

#1437 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $19,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $29,177

39. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#1362 in the United States

#1440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Net Price: $14,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $15,568

40. Livingstone College

Salisbury

For Computer Science

#1367 in the United States

#1446 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $15,162
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,065

41. Barton College

Wilson

For Computer Science

#1457 in the United States

#1539 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $23,804
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,334

42. Bennett College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#1510 in the United States

#1593 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 902
Net Price: $20,928
Receiving Aid: 100%

43. Montreat College

Montreat

For Computer Science

#1511 in the United States

#1594 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $26,294
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,528

44. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

For Computer Science

#1535 in the United States

#1618 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $23,463

45. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

For Computer Science

#1548 in the United States

#1632 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $19,842
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $28,914

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Computer Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	28	95
Virginia	42	43
West Virginia	19	120
Georgia	48	25
District of Columbia	11	89
Maryland	28	8
Kentucky	26	64
Tennessee	36	51
Delaware	4	91
Ohio	62	24
Pennsylvania	103	12
Alabama	25	81
New Jersey	29	23
Indiana	35	32
Florida	65	31
Connecticut	21	15
Illinois	76	9
New York	137	11
Mississippi	14	157
Rhode Island	9	59
Massachusetts	71	2
Michigan	39	5
Arkansas	18	152
Vermont	12	135
Missouri	36	34
New Hampshire	12	87
Louisiana	25	74
Wisconsin	33	16
Iowa	31	49
Maine	14	224
Oklahoma	19	111
Kansas	15	90
Minnesota	27	19
Nebraska	13	103
Texas	79	17
South Dakota	8	322
North Dakota	8	195
Colorado	21	47
Puerto Rico	15	382
New Mexico	9	99
Montana	8	193
Utah	11	45
Arizona	10	39
Idaho	7	196
Nevada	7	148
Oregon	18	84
California	136	1
Washington	33	6
Alaska	4	271
Hawaii	7	131

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Computer Science

Computer Science subfields in North Carolina