Best Online Computer Science Programs in Durham, NC (2026)
Durham, North Carolina has a population of about 288,465. The city’s median household income is $79,234 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 55.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Durham, with tuition ranging from $2,336 to $22,570 per year for indexed programs. In the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer Network Architect at a median $172,280 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Durham
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 40 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Durham. Distances are calculated from Durham city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 9.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Meredith College | Raleigh, NC | 17.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| MyComputerCareer at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 17.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 18.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 20.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC | 20.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | 25.4 mi | $2,336 - $16,798 | – |
| Alamance Community College | Graham, NC | 26.0 mi | $2,528 - $22,570 | – |
| Elon University | Elon, NC | 34.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Durham
Durham is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area (BLS area code 20500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $131,980 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $135,225 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $112,820 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $115,594 |
| Computer Network Architect | $172,280 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $176,516 |
| Database Administrator | $103,420 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $105,963 |
| Database Architect | $130,560 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $133,770 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,750 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $128,842 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $114,630 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $117,449 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $63,370 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $64,928 |
| Web Developer | $84,160 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $86,230 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $106,900 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $109,529 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $169,380 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $173,545 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Durham at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 288,465 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,234 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 55.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Durham County | 6,236 workers, 704 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Durham-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Chapel Hill, NC – 8.4 mi away (59,246 pop)
- Morrisville, NC – 10.7 mi away (24,732 pop)
- Carrboro, NC – 10.9 mi away (21,265 pop)
- Cary, NC – 14.6 mi away (162,320 pop)
- Apex, NC – 17.8 mi away (47,349 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Durham, NC?
Our directory has 40 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Durham. The closest is Duke University in Durham, NC (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Elon University (34.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Durham?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Durham are: Computer Network Architect ($172,280), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($169,380), Software Developer ($131,980). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Chapel Hill instead of Durham?
Chapel Hill, NC is 8.4 miles from Durham and has its own set of local computer science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Durham an affordable place to study computer science?
Durham’s median household income of $79,234 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Durham while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
- Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- Main Computer Science Degree Guide
- Computer Science Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Return to Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina (2026)