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Key Takeaways
Best information systems degree programs: U of North Carolina at Ch..., U of North Carolina at Ch..., North Carolina A & T State
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $1,000 to $63,608/year
Wake Technical Community ... offers the most affordable option at $2,076/yr
Information Systems degree programs available: 56 associate's, 8 master's, 2 doctoral in North Carolina
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
18 online information systems degree programs in North Carolina
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
North Carolina community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
56 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: IBM, Cisco, Red Hat, SAS
Tech hubs in Raleigh and Charlotte
Hakia Research 2026
Information Systems degree programs near 92+ cities across North Carolina
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated June 27, 2026
How we ranked North Carolina Information Systems programs
We rank 87 accredited information systems programs in North Carolina using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Information Systems Degree Programs in North Carolina Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Systems Degree Rankings in North Carolina
Compare the top-ranked Information Systems programs in North Carolina by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Information Systems Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina offers 56 accredited associate's degree programs in information systems, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Wake Technical Community ..., Guilford Technical Commun..., Forsyth Technical Communi..., which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in North Carolina offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $2,985/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $59,037 in North Carolina.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with North Carolina's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like IBM, Cisco, Red Hat hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among information systems schools in North Carolina, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their information systems degrees in North Carolina.
Best Bachelor's Information Systems Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina ranks among the nation's top destinations for information systems education, with 21 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 12 public and 8 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of North Carolina at Ch..., U of North Carolina at Ch..., North Carolina A & T State, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from North Carolina information systems programs earn a median salary of $91,239, 7% below the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including IBM, Cisco, Red Hat.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $1,000 to $63,608 annually, with an average of $16,211/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 87%, with the highest reaching 97%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to North Carolina's leading technology employers. For students seeking information systems degrees in North Carolina, these top-ranked information systems schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Show all 10 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Catawba College | Salisbury, NC | Private nonprofit | $34,300 | 47% | 71.6 |
| #7 | University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive, NC | Private nonprofit | $26,216 | 52% | 71.6 |
| #8 | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, NC | Public | $1,000 | 38% | 65.9 |
| #9 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory, NC | Private nonprofit | $31,000 | 48% | 65.4 |
| #10 | Strayer University-North Carolina | Greensboro, NC | Private for-profit | $13,725 | 33% | 61.9 |
Best Master's Information Systems Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina offers 8 master's degree programs in information systems, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of North Carolina at Ch..., North Carolina State Univ..., Wake Forest, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in North Carolina earn a median salary of $107,340, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with IBM, Cisco, Red Hat actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $18,362/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among North Carolina's information systems schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Strayer University-North Carolina
Best Doctoral Information Systems Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina is home to 2 doctoral programs in information systems, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at U of North Carolina at Ch..., U of North Carolina at Gr... are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with North Carolina PhD holders earning a median of $134,175, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like IBM, Cisco, Red Hat.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across North Carolina programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing information systems degrees in North Carolina, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Information Systems Degree Costs & Tuition in North Carolina
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $6,186/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $15,465/year |
| Community college tuition | $1,547/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $37,116 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $9,278 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Information Systems Students in North Carolina
State Aid Programs
North Carolina offers substantial financial aid programs that make information systems education accessible. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) administers state grants and scholarships including need-based aid for students at eligible institutions (NCSEAA). The NC Community College Grant supports students beginning their education at community colleges before transferring to four-year programs. Students must complete the FAFSA to access federal and state financial aid.
Key Programs & Amounts
Merit-based opportunities include university-specific scholarships and competitive programs. The Carolina Covenant at UNC Chapel Hill covers the full cost of education for qualifying low-income North Carolina students, allowing debt-free graduation through grants and work-study. North Carolina A&T was recognized by Money Magazine as the #1 most affordable among North Carolina's top universities, offering competitive value for technology education.
Institutional Scholarships
Graduate students can access research and teaching assistantships, fellowships, and tuition waivers at research universities. Veterans and military-connected students benefit from GI Bill benefits and state education programs. Employer tuition reimbursement can offset costs for working professionals pursuing graduate credentials. For comprehensive cost analysis, see our information systems value programs guide.
Information Systems Degree ROI Calculator, North Carolina
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information systems degree in North Carolina. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Information Systems Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information systems degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+750%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,386,612
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
6 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$131,579
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Information Systems Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in North Carolina metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Raleigh | $118K |
| Charlotte | $113K |
| Durham | $107K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Information Systems Graduates in North Carolina
Find information systems jobs in North Carolina. These major employers across North Carolina metro areas are actively hiring information systems degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Systems Jobs in raleighDurham
NCInformation Systems Jobs in Charlotte
NCCharlotte is the second-largest banking center in the US. Bank of America and Wells Fargo drive fintech demand.
Nearby cities: Huntersville, Concord, Matthews, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Mooresville
North Carolina Tech Industry & Infrastructure
North Carolina's Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is one of the densest US tech corridors per capita, anchored by three major research universities (NC State, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill) and a 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park hosting hundreds of tech employers. Charlotte separately operates as a top-tier US financial-services tech hub.
Research Triangle
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metros
Home to SAS Institute (analytics), IBM Research Triangle Park, Cisco, Red Hat (now IBM), Lenovo Americas HQ, Epic Games, Citrix, Bandwidth, and the Research Triangle Park complex. NC State CS, Duke CS, and UNC computer science all feed the local market — combined a top-10 US CS graduate pipeline.
Charlotte
Charlotte metro
Bank of America HQ and a top-3 US banking center. Wells Fargo, Truist, LendingTree, and dense fintech employment. Charlotte tech is heavily financial-services-coded; less consumer/startup but exceptionally stable employment.
Asheville / Western NC
Asheville metro
Smaller but growing remote-work and outdoor-industry tech market; not a primary tech destination but increasingly relevant for lifestyle-driven talent.
North Carolina has a flat state income tax (4.5% in 2026, scheduled to decline further). The NC Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) and One NC Fund are the principal tech-employer incentives — Apple's $1B+ RTP campus relocation was supported by these programs.
North Carolina Regulation Affecting Information Systems Graduates
North Carolina has been more active on legislation around identity theft, biometrics, and AI in employment than on broad consumer privacy. The state's regulatory environment is generally employer-favorable but has tightened on data security since several high-profile state-government breaches.
NC Identity Theft Protection Act
Requires businesses to notify NC residents of data security breaches and sets minimum data-handling and disposal standards for personal information.
Standard breach-response compliance for any NC-resident-serving business; minimum technical standards have informed security-program design at NC-headquartered employers.
Read moreNC Computer Trespass Statute (N.C.G.S. § 14-453 et seq.)
State cybercrime law parallel to federal CFAA; covers unauthorized computer access, computer-related fraud, and damage to data.
Relevant for cybersecurity professionals doing incident response, penetration testing, or security research within NC.
Read moreNC Insurance Data Security Act
Adopted from the NAIC model; requires insurers and insurance-adjacent businesses to maintain comprehensive information security programs with risk assessments, incident response plans, and third-party oversight.
Drives security-engineering hiring at Charlotte-based insurance and financial-services employers; sets the technical bar for NC financial-services security teams.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in North Carolina
North Carolina does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering disciplines require ABET-EAC accreditation for PE eligibility; software engineering is not a recognized NC PE discipline. NC State's ABET-EAC software engineering program does qualify graduates for engineering tracks at federal agencies that recognize software engineering as engineering.
North Carolina licensing boardNorth Carolina Financial Aid Programs
NC Need-Based Scholarship (NCNBS)
State scholarshipUp to $11,150/yr
NC residents with demonstrated financial need at NC private colleges/universities
UNC Need-Based Grant
State grantVaries by institution and need; averages ~$3,500/yr
NC residents with financial need attending one of 16 UNC System universities
NC Education Lottery Scholarship
State grantUp to $5,100/yr at 4-year, $2,800/yr at community college
NC residents at NC public 2-year and 4-year institutions with financial need
NC Community College Grant
State grantUp to $2,800/yr
NC residents at NC community colleges with financial need
Transfer Pathways for Information Systems Degrees in North Carolina
State Transfer System
North Carolina's Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) provides structured transfer pathways between community colleges and universities for students pursuing information systems education. The 2025 CAA update, effective Spring 2026, includes enhanced protections such as guaranteed acceptance of coursework with grades of C- or higher, junior-level transfer status, and the Transfer Assured Admissions Policy (NCCCS CAA). Students completing AA or AS degrees receive general education waivers.
How Transfers Work
Nearly 60% of transfer students in the UNC System transfer from North Carolina Community Colleges, benefiting from established pathways for technology and computing courses (UNC System Transfer). Transfer Guides available through CFNC.org identify specific community college courses that align with information systems program requirements. The ACA 122: Transfer and Career Success course helps students plan efficient transfer pathways.
Transfer Planning Tips
Guaranteed Transfer Admissions Programs at many UNC System institutions provide assured admission for eligible community college students meeting specific criteria. The Reverse Transfer Program allows students who transferred before completing associate degrees to combine credits for retroactive credential completion. Students should work with advisors early in their studies to ensure course selections align with target program requirements. For transfer-friendly options, see our affordable information systems programs guide.
Information Systems Job Growth in North Carolina
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
Information Systems Job Market & Salary Data in North Carolina
Employment Outlook
The information systems job market in North Carolina reflects strong demand driven by the state's technology, financial services, healthcare, and defense sectors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information systems positions are projected to grow 15% from 2022 to 2032, significantly faster than the average occupation (BLS Computer and Information Systems Managers). The Research Triangle, Charlotte, and the Triad each host substantial employer concentrations requiring information systems talent.
Salaries by Metro
Salary expectations in North Carolina are competitive with national averages while offering lower cost of living than coastal technology hubs. Information Systems professionals in North Carolina can expect salaries in the range of $80,000 to $150,000, depending on experience and specialization. The state's ranking as #4 for tech talent growth ensures continued expansion of information systems opportunities (EDPNC).
High-Growth Sectors
Major employers recruiting information systems professionals include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Duke Health, UNC Health, IBM, Cisco. The NC State Engineering Career Fair connects students with 300+ employers actively recruiting from one of the nation's largest engineering programs (NC State Career Fair). For regional salary data, see our Information Systems salary guide.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Systems Programs in North Carolina
Online Programs
18 available in North Carolina
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Information Systems Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 38
- Median Tuition
- $12,800
- Total Programs
- 43
- Median Tuition
- $9,300
- Total Programs
- 37
- Median Tuition
- $7,600
- Total Programs
- 12
- Median Tuition
- $13,100
- Total Programs
- 133
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 22
- Median Tuition
- $11,000
- Total Programs
- 98
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
- Total Programs
- 110
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
Information Systems Degree Programs in North Carolina: FAQ
What are the best information systems degree programs in North Carolina?
How much do information systems degree programs cost in North Carolina?
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Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
North Carolina salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.