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Key Takeaways
Best information technology degree programs: U of North Carolina at Ch..., North Carolina A & T State, U of North Carolina at Ch...
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $1,000 to $40,400/year
Wake Technical Community ... offers the most affordable option at $2,076/yr
Information Technology degree programs available: 56 associate's, 7 master's, 2 doctoral in North Carolina
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
24 online information technology 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 Technology degree programs near 92+ cities across North Carolina
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked North Carolina Information Technology programs
We rank 88 accredited information technology 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 Technology Degree Programs in North Carolina Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Technology Degree Rankings in North Carolina
Compare the top-ranked Information Technology programs in North Carolina by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Information Technology Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina offers 56 accredited associate's degree programs in information technology, 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 technology schools in North Carolina, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their information technology degrees in North Carolina.
Show all 58 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Wayne Community College | Goldsboro, NC | Public | $2,432 | 49% | 85.7 |
| #7 | Montgomery Community College | Troy, NC | Public | $2,432 | 84% | 85.6 |
| #8 | Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville, NC | Public | $1,824 | 46% | 85.4 |
| #9 | Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 49% | 85.3 |
| #10 | Randolph Community College | Asheboro, NC | Public | $2,280 | 58% | 84.9 |
| #11 | Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC | Public | $2,078 | 45% | 84.7 |
| #12 | Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock, NC | Public | $2,432 | 50% | 83.4 |
| #13 | Craven Community College | New Bern, NC | Public | $1,824 | 48% | 83.2 |
| #14 | Tri-County Community College | Murphy, NC | Public | $2,304 | 54% | 83.0 |
| #15 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson, NC | Public | $2,432 | 45% | 82.8 |
| #16 | Sampson Community College | Clinton, NC | Public | $2,736 | 56% | 82.8 |
| #17 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 40% | 82.2 |
| #18 | Carteret Community College | Morehead City, NC | Public | $2,128 | 49% | 82.0 |
| #19 | Central Carolina Community College | Sanford, NC | Public | $2,432 | 43% | 82.0 |
| #20 | McDowell Technical Community College | Marion, NC | Public | $1,824 | 48% | 81.8 |
| #21 | Beaufort County Community College | Washington, NC | Public | $2,432 | 48% | 81.6 |
| #22 | Richmond Community College | Hamlet, NC | Public | $1,824 | 46% | 81.5 |
| #23 | Southwestern Community College | Sylva, NC | Public | $3,792 | 53% | 81.5 |
| #24 | James Sprunt Community College | Kenansville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 48% | 81.3 |
| #25 | Campbell University | Buies Creek, NC | Private nonprofit | $38,880 | 61% | 81.2 |
| #26 | Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton, NC | Public | $2,432 | 49% | 80.4 |
| #27 | Stanly Community College | Albemarle, NC | Public | $2,432 | 48% | 80.1 |
| #28 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | Public | $1,824 | 33% | 79.8 |
| #29 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury, NC | Public | $1,824 | 35% | 79.2 |
| #30 | Southeastern Community College | Whiteville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 43% | 79.1 |
| #31 | Alamance Community College | Graham, NC | Public | $2,432 | 39% | 78.8 |
| #32 | Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem, NC | Public | $1,824 | 34% | 78.7 |
| #33 | Johnston Community College | Smithfield, NC | Public | $2,432 | 37% | 78.7 |
| #34 | Nash Community College | Rocky Mount, NC | Public | $2,600 | 41% | 78.6 |
| #35 | South Piedmont Community College | Polkton, NC | Public | $1,824 | 38% | 78.4 |
| #36 | Brunswick Community College | Bolivia, NC | Public | $2,432 | 40% | 77.9 |
| #37 | Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington, NC | Public | $2,432 | 34% | 77.6 |
| #38 | Pitt Community College | Winterville, NC | Public | $3,648 | 35% | 77.2 |
| #39 | Mayland Community College | Spruce Pine, NC | Public | $2,432 | 46% | 76.5 |
| #40 | Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | Public | $2,432 | 31% | 76.4 |
| #41 | Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory, NC | Public | $2,128 | 35% | 76.2 |
| #42 | Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown, NC | Public | $2,128 | 31% | 75.8 |
| #43 | Rockingham Community College | Wentworth, NC | Public | $1,824 | 35% | 73.0 |
| #44 | College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City, NC | Public | $2,095 | 35% | 72.4 |
| #45 | Lenoir Community College | Kinston, NC | Public | $2,432 | 36% | 71.8 |
| #46 | Martin Community College | Williamston, NC | Public | $2,432 | 39% | 71.6 |
| #47 | Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 24% | 71.1 |
| #48 | Roanoke-Chowan Community College | Ahoskie, NC | Public | $2,432 | 37% | 70.2 |
| #49 | Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro, NC | Public | $2,432 | 37% | 69.5 |
| #50 | Robeson Community College | Lumberton, NC | Public | $2,432 | 33% | 68.6 |
| #51 | Halifax Community College | Weldon, NC | Public | $2,432 | 35% | 68.1 |
| #52 | Cleveland Community College | Shelby, NC | Public | $2,432 | 32% | 67.7 |
| #53 | Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | Public | $2,432 | 34% | 67.4 |
| #54 | Mitchell Community College | Statesville, NC | Public | $2,432 | 28% | 66.1 |
| #55 | Wilson Community College | Wilson, NC | Public | $2,432 | 27% | 63.6 |
| #56 | Bladen Community College | Dublin, NC | Public | $2,128 | 23% | 60.8 |
| #57 | Surry Community College | Dobson, NC | Public | $2,550 | 6% | 59.0 |
| #58 | Piedmont Community College | Roxboro, NC | Public | $2,432 | 20% | 58.6 |
Best Bachelor's Information Technology Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina ranks among the nation's top destinations for information technology education, with 23 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 9 public and 13 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of North Carolina at Ch..., North Carolina A & T State, U of North Carolina at Ch..., recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from North Carolina information technology 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 $40,400 annually, with an average of $18,148/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 85%, with the highest reaching 94%. 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 technology degrees in North Carolina, these top-ranked information technology schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
North Carolina A & T State University
Show all 10 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte, NC | Private nonprofit | $19,270 | 34% | 70.2 |
| #7 | North Carolina Central University | Durham, NC | Public | $3,728 | 42% | 69.8 |
| #8 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC | Public | $3,401 | 47% | 69.0 |
| #9 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, NC | Public | $1,000 | 44% | 66.5 |
| #10 | Strayer University-North Carolina | Greensboro, NC | Private for-profit | $13,725 | 33% | 60.8 |
Best Master's Information Technology Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina offers 7 master's degree programs in information technology, 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 A & T State, U of North Carolina at Ch..., 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 $5,667/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 technology schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Best Doctoral Information Technology Programs in North Carolina
Program Landscape
North Carolina is home to 2 doctoral programs in information technology, 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 Ch... 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 technology 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 Greensboro
Information Technology Degree Costs & Tuition in North Carolina
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $7,010/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $17,525/year |
| Community college tuition | $1,753/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $42,060 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $10,514 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid for North Carolina Information Technology Students
Verdict: North Carolina IT students benefit from one of the strongest US IT funding-to-outcomes equations: the Carolina Covenant (UNC), Pack Promise (NC State), and University Promise (UNC Charlotte) providing debt-free graduation pathways for Pell-eligible students. Plus substantial NC IT operations employment, SAS Institute IT (Cary, one of the larger US analytics software company IT operations), Apple RTP IT ($1B+ campus expansion adding substantial IT operations through 2027), IBM RTP IT (multi-decade IT operations depth), Bank of America Charlotte IT (one of the largest US bank IT operations), Truist IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial post-merger bank IT operations), Lowe's IT (Mooresville HQ, one of the larger US retail IT operations), Honeywell IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial industrial IT), Lenovo IT (Morrisville HQ), LabCorp IT, Cisco RTP IT, Red Hat IT.
NC Carolina Covenant (UNC Chapel Hill) provides debt-free graduation for Pell-eligible NC residents at UNC Chapel Hill. NC State Pack Promise provides similar debt-free pathway at NC State. UNC Charlotte University Promise extends to Charlotte-area Pell-eligible students. In-state tuition at NC State and UNC Chapel Hill is exceptional value (under $9,500/year for NC State IT, under $9,000/year for UNC IT), particularly relative to comparable IT operations industry placement at private institutions.
North Carolina's IT-specific institutional aid is concentrated at: NC State University Poole College of Management + College of Engineering with substantial IT programs and direct RTP industry placement at SAS Institute IT, Apple RTP IT, IBM RTP IT. UNC Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School + College of Arts and Sciences has substantial IT programs. UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business + College of Computing and Informatics has substantial IT programs with substantial Charlotte banking and financial services IT industry partnerships at Bank of America, Truist, Wells Fargo Charlotte, plus Honeywell and Lowe's industrial IT industry placement. North Carolina A&T State University (HBCU) has growing IT programs with substantial scholarship support. East Carolina University, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington offer affordable IT programs. The North Carolina community college IT certification + AAS-IT degree programs at Wake Technical Community College, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Durham Technical Community College, Forsyth Technical Community College, and Cape Fear Community College provide substantial IT credentialing pathways.
Industry-track scholarships and tuition reimbursement from North Carolina-based IT employers, SAS Institute IT (Cary), Apple RTP IT engineering, IBM RTP IT operations, Bank of America IT (Charlotte, one of the largest US bank IT operations), Truist IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial post-merger bank IT operations supporting Truist Financial's substantial banking operations), Wells Fargo Charlotte IT, Lowe's IT (Mooresville HQ, one of the larger US retail IT operations supporting Lowe's 1,750+ store retail operations), Honeywell IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial industrial IT), Lenovo IT (Morrisville HQ), Cisco RTP IT (one of Cisco's substantial US engineering and IT operations), Red Hat IT (open-source enterprise software IT), LabCorp / Quintiles IT (Burlington HQ, one of the larger US clinical research IT operations), Duke Health IT, Duke Energy IT (Charlotte HQ), provide additional funding most students don't pursue.
Information Technology Degree ROI Calculator, North Carolina
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information technology 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 Technology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information technology degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+587%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,086,579
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.
$115,789
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 Technology 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 Technology Graduates in North Carolina
Find information technology jobs in North Carolina. These major employers across North Carolina metro areas are actively hiring information technology degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Technology Jobs in raleighDurham
NCInformation Technology 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 Technology 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 North Carolina Information Technology Students
Verdict: North Carolina's Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the UNC System provides robust IT-track transfer pathways at the foundational level. IT-track transfer admission is substantially more accessible than CS-track admission at most NC 4-year institutions, often 40-70% for qualified transfer applicants.
Best North Carolina community college IT-track-feeder schools: Wake Technical Community College (largest NCCCS institution, strong NC State IT pipeline with refined IT certification + AAS-IT programs aligned to SAS Institute IT, Apple RTP IT, and IBM RTP IT industry placement during community college years), Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) (Charlotte, strong UNC Charlotte IT pipeline with substantial Bank of America IT, Truist IT, Wells Fargo Charlotte IT, Lowe's IT, and Honeywell IT industry placement), Durham Technical Community College (Durham, geographically adjacent to Duke + NC Central, strong Duke Health IT and NC Central IT pathways), Forsyth Technical Community College (Winston-Salem, strong Wake Forest, UNC Greensboro, and Reynolds American IT pathways), Cape Fear Community College (Wilmington, strong UNC Wilmington IT pathway). Each has refined IT certification + intro-CS sequences via CAA articulation.
The Wake Tech → NC State IT pathway is the most reliable North Carolina community college IT progression, Wake Tech is geographically adjacent to NC State and RTP, has refined IT certification + AAS-IT programs aligned to NC State's IT programs, and produces graduates with substantial SAS Institute IT, Apple RTP IT, and IBM RTP IT industry placement. The CPCC → UNC Charlotte IT pathway is the most reliable Charlotte-area IT progression with substantial Bank of America IT, Truist IT, Wells Fargo Charlotte IT, Lowe's IT, and Honeywell IT industry placement at exceptional in-state tuition.
Beyond NC State and UNC Charlotte IT: UNC Chapel Hill has substantial IT programs. Duke University has IT programs but transfer admission is genuinely difficult. NC A&T State University (HBCU) has growing IT programs with substantial scholarship support. East Carolina University, Appalachian State, Western Carolina are affordable comprehensive alternatives. Wake Forest University has IT programs at small-private scale. For North Carolina IT-track students, the NC State pathway is the strong RTP industry optimization with SAS Institute / Apple RTP / IBM RTP IT placement; UNC Charlotte is the Charlotte banking/retail IT optimization with substantial industry placement; UNC Chapel Hill is the strong public flagship optimization; East Carolina/Appalachian State are the affordable comprehensive alternatives.
Information Technology Job Growth in North Carolina
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
North Carolina Information Technology Job Market & Salary
Verdict: North Carolina has a substantial and growing IT engineer job market with three distinct clusters: Research Triangle Park (RTP) tech IT, SAS Institute IT (Cary, one of the larger US analytics software company IT operations), Apple RTP IT ($1B+ campus expansion adding substantial IT operations through 2027), IBM RTP IT (multi-decade IT operations depth), Cisco RTP IT (substantial Cisco engineering and IT operations), Red Hat IT, Lenovo IT (Morrisville HQ), and Charlotte's banking and financial-services IT cluster, Bank of America IT (one of the largest US bank IT operations), Truist IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial post-merger bank IT operations), Wells Fargo Charlotte IT, Fidelity Charlotte IT, Lowe's IT (Mooresville HQ), Honeywell IT (Charlotte HQ), Duke Energy IT (Charlotte HQ), and Triad and broader NC industrial IT, Reynolds American IT, Volvo Group IT (Greensboro), Honda Aircraft IT (Greensboro). Plus the substantial LabCorp / Quintiles IT (Burlington HQ, one of the larger US clinical research IT operations) and Duke Health IT (substantial academic medical center IT operations).
By metro: Raleigh-Durham (RTP) averages ~$85,000-$135,000 for IT support and systems administration roles with substantial concentrations at SAS Institute IT (Cary, substantial IT operations supporting SAS's substantial analytics software products), Apple RTP ($1B+ campus expansion adding 3,000+ engineering and IT jobs through 2027), IBM RTP IT (multi-decade IT operations depth supporting IBM's substantial enterprise IT operations), Cisco RTP IT (substantial Cisco engineering and IT operations), Red Hat IT (open-source enterprise software IT), Lenovo IT (Morrisville HQ, IT operations supporting PC and server products), Duke Health IT (one of the largest US academic medical center IT operations).
Charlotte averages ~$85,000-$135,000 for IT support and systems administration roles with Bank of America IT as the substantial employer, one of the largest US bank IT operations with substantial IT workforce supporting Bank of America's substantial banking infrastructure across consumer banking, wealth management, commercial banking, and capital markets operations. Truist IT (Charlotte HQ), substantial post-merger bank IT operations supporting Truist Financial's substantial banking operations across 17 states + DC. Wells Fargo Charlotte IT (substantial Wells Fargo IT operations second only to NYC in scale). Lowe's IT (Mooresville HQ, one of the larger US retail IT operations supporting Lowe's substantial 1,750+ home improvement retail operations). Honeywell IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial industrial IT supporting Honeywell's substantial industrial operations). Duke Energy IT (Charlotte HQ, substantial utility IT). Greensboro/Winston-Salem has growing applied-IT at Volvo Group (industrial IT), Reynolds American (consumer products IT), and Honda Aircraft Greensboro (aerospace IT).
Three North Carolina IT-specific dynamics: (1) Apple RTP's substantial expansion through 2027 is one of the largest US tech-company IT engineering expansions outside the Bay Area or Seattle, providing genuine non-FAANG-headquarters-located IT engineering and operations employment scale. (2) Charlotte banking IT operations are one of the largest US bank IT employment concentrations outside NYC, Bank of America, Truist, Wells Fargo Charlotte, plus Fidelity Charlotte collectively employ tens of thousands of IT professionals with substantial career stability through economic cycles. (3) NC IT employment stability through 2022-2024 broader tech downturns, RTP IT operations + Charlotte banking IT continued aggressive hiring through periods when commercial-tech IT hiring contracted substantially. See IT Support Specialist Career Guide and Systems Administrator Career Guide.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Technology Programs in North Carolina
Online Programs
24 available in North Carolina
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
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Information Technology Degree Programs in North Carolina: FAQ
What are the best information technology degree programs in North Carolina?
How much do information technology degree programs cost in North Carolina?
What salary can information technology degree graduates earn in North Carolina?
Are there online information technology degree programs in North Carolina?
What companies hire information technology degree graduates in North Carolina?
Is an information technology degree program worth it in North Carolina?
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What financial aid is available for information technology degree students in North Carolina?
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.