44 Best Computer Science schools in North Carolina

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 9.51M citations received by 300K academic papers made by 44 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

#31 in the United States

#34 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Computer Science

#38 in the United States

#41 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

3. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#55 in the United States

#63 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

4. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#113 in the United States

#132 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#148 in the United States

#173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

6. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Computer Science

#188 in the United States

#216 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

7. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#198 in the United States

#227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

8. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#296 in the United States

#333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 97%

9. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Computer Science

#313 in the United States

#351 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 74%

10. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Computer Science

#314 in the United States

#352 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

11. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Computer Science

#371 in the United States

#416 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

12. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Computer Science

#489 in the United States

#538 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

13. Davidson College

Davidson

For Computer Science

#520 in the United States

#569 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $26,704

14. Elon University

Elon

For Computer Science

#530 in the United States

#579 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,527

15. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke

For Computer Science

#578 in the United States

#630 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $6,619
Enrollment: 7,666

16. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#624 in the United States

#682 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 95%

17. Guilford College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#631 in the United States

#689 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,882

18. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Computer Science

#652 in the United States

#713 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

19. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville

For Computer Science

#693 in the United States

#755 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 965
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 91%

20. St. Andrews University

Laurinburg

For Computer Science

#713 in the United States

#776 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $31,864
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $17,026

21. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#731 in the United States

#794 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1168
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,459

22. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Computer Science

#752 in the United States

#816 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $24,280
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $33,425

23. High Point University

High Point

For Computer Science

#778 in the United States

#842 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1192
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $40,221

24. Wingate University

Wingate

For Computer Science

#912 in the United States

#982 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $18,823

25. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#928 in the United States

#998 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Net Price: $16,731
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $10,437

26. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Computer Science

#985 in the United States

#1057 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1132
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,129

27. Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer

For Computer Science

#1035 in the United States

#1108 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $21,575
Receiving Aid: 100%

28. Meredith College

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#1081 in the United States

#1155 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $23,259

29. Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory

For Computer Science

#1085 in the United States

#1159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $21,843
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $35,641

30. Greensboro College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#1086 in the United States

#1160 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $19,581
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,283

31. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City

For Computer Science

#1137 in the United States

#1211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 97%

32. Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte

For Computer Science

#1141 in the United States

#1215 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $20,045
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,911

33. Catawba College

Salisbury

For Computer Science

#1196 in the United States

#1271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,701

34. University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive

For Computer Science

#1255 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $17,878
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,371

35. Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa

For Computer Science

#1319 in the United States

#1396 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,086
Receiving Aid: 100%

36. Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs

For Computer Science

#1324 in the United States

#1401 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $22,339

37. Salem College

Winston-Salem

For Computer Science

#1338 in the United States

#1415 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $18,354
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,048

38. Bennett College

Greensboro

For Computer Science

#1340 in the United States

#1417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Net Price: $20,545
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,996

39. Shaw University

Raleigh

For Computer Science

#1367 in the United States

#1445 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $14,204
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $15,548

40. Livingstone College

Salisbury

For Computer Science

#1395 in the United States

#1474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 880
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $15,914

41. North Carolina Wesleyan College

Rocky Mount

For Computer Science

#1420 in the United States

#1500 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $18,701
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $28,392

42. Belmont Abbey College

Belmont

For Computer Science

#1484 in the United States

#1567 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,522

43. Barton College

Wilson

For Computer Science

#1492 in the United States

#1575 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $23,443
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,431

44. Mars Hill University

Mars Hill

For Computer Science

#1536 in the United States

#1621 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $17,721
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $28,916

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Computer Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	27	91
Virginia	42	44
West Virginia	18	121
Georgia	47	21
District of Columbia	11	93
Maryland	27	8
Kentucky	26	64
Tennessee	34	51
Delaware	3	92
Ohio	62	23
Pennsylvania	102	12
Alabama	25	77
New Jersey	28	26
Indiana	33	43
Florida	61	29
Connecticut	20	15
Illinois	72	9
New York	135	11
Mississippi	14	156
Rhode Island	9	60
Massachusetts	69	2
Michigan	39	5
Arkansas	18	159
Vermont	12	134
Missouri	36	33
New Hampshire	12	94
Louisiana	24	98
Wisconsin	32	16
Iowa	31	48
Maine	14	224
Oklahoma	19	115
Kansas	15	90
Minnesota	27	18
Nebraska	13	105
Texas	78	19
South Dakota	8	324
North Dakota	8	196
Colorado	21	50
Puerto Rico	15	370
New Mexico	9	95
Montana	7	193
Utah	11	45
Arizona	9	34
Idaho	7	199
Nevada	7	149
Oregon	18	84
California	131	1
Washington	32	6
Alaska	4	269
Hawaii	7	127

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Computer Science

Computer Science subfields in North Carolina