Computer Scienceat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduates earn $90,293/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Computer Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,109K; scenarios range from $803K to $1,171K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC's strength isn't just its elite reputation; it's the powerhouse local economy you'll graduate into. The program is a primary recruiting pipeline for Research Triangle Park (RTP), one of the nation's largest tech and research hubs, putting you in direct contact with giants like Cisco, SAS, and IBM, plus a thriving startup scene. While graduates certainly place at top firms nationwide, this immediate access to high-paying local jobs provides a significant career launchpad. The high AI risk score reflects that you'll be on the cutting edge, developing the very tools shaping the future, not being replaced by them. To maximize this advantage, your key task is to network aggressively within RTP. Attend local tech meetups and leverage university career fairs; your UNC credentials open doors that are literally right down the road.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Computer Science
How University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
What does a 90/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
At 90/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
The 72% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill one of the best schools for Computer Science?
Among 345 Computer Science programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.