Best Online Computer Science Programs in Smithfield, NC (2026)

Smithfield, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $2,336 to $58,752 per year for indexed programs. Smithfield has a population of about 11,798. Median household income is $37,827 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $173,960 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Smithfield

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer computer science programs near Smithfield, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Smithfield city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Smithfield. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC 23.1 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 46.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,886
Avg net price $24,516/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 46

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Shaw University

Raleigh, NC 24.1 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 26.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 21%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,409
Avg net price $16,512/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 12

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC 25.8 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 84.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $68,758
Avg net price $17,303/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC 43.2 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 49.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,144
Avg net price $7,892/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 55.5 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 68.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,146
Avg net price $15,739/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 83

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, NC 74.5 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 47.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,407
Avg net price $10,260/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NC 88.7 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 55.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,440
Avg net price $10,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC 90.3 miles from Smithfield BOC Score 59.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,160
Avg net price $10,965/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina computer science page.


Computer Science Wages Near Smithfield

Smithfield is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area (BLS area code 39580). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$132,770Raleigh-Cary, NC$135,204
Computer Systems Analyst$108,480Raleigh-Cary, NC$110,468
Computer Network Architect$120,640Raleigh-Cary, NC$122,851
Database Administrator$122,950Raleigh-Cary, NC$125,204
Database Architect$132,740Raleigh-Cary, NC$135,173
Information Security Analyst$143,640Raleigh-Cary, NC$146,273
Computer Network Support Specialist$63,910Raleigh-Cary, NC$65,081
Computer User Support Specialist$62,460Raleigh-Cary, NC$63,605
Web Developer$82,250Raleigh-Cary, NC$83,758
Web and Digital Interface Designer$102,860Raleigh-Cary, NC$104,745
Computer and Information Systems Manager$173,960Raleigh-Cary, NC$177,149

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.


Smithfield at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population11,798Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$37,827Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+26.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)98.2 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Johnston County120 workers, 105 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Smithfield-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Smithfield, NC?

Accredited schools offering computer science programs near Smithfield are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Smithfield?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Smithfield are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($173,960), Information Security Analyst ($143,640), Software Developer ($132,770). 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 Clayton instead of Smithfield?

Clayton, NC is 11.4 miles from Smithfield 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 Smithfield an affordable place to study computer science?

Smithfield’s median household income of $37,827 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Smithfield 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.


Learn More About Computer Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Smithfield

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Smithfield:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.