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Raleigh , NC
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887, it is the largest university in the state and a member of the prestigious University of North Carolina system. NC State offers over 160 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of fields, including engineering, agriculture, textiles, business, computer science, and the natural sciences. The university is renowned for its strong commitment to research, innovation, and engagement with industry and government partners.
NC State is home to a diverse and vibrant community of students from all 100 counties in North Carolina, as well as from all 50 states and over 100 countries. With a total enrollment of more than 36,000 students, the university offers a stimulating and dynamic environment for learning, collaboration, and personal growth. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities, including research labs, libraries, performance spaces, and athletic facilities, all designed to enhance the academic and social experience of students.
One of the defining characteristics of NC State is its close ties with industry and government. The university encourages its students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges through experiential learning opportunities, internships, and co-op programs. NC State's Centennial Campus, a 1,334-acre research park, serves as a hub for innovation and collaboration between academia and industry, fostering entrepreneurship and economic development in the region. Additionally, the university is a major contributor to the state's agricultural sector through its college of agriculture and life sciences, providing essential research, education, and extension services to support North Carolina's farming communities.
Located in Raleigh, NC and set in an urban environment, North Carolina State University is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 41%. The freshman retention rate at North Carolina State University is 93% and the six-year graduation rate is 85%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is June 1. The transfer application deadline is June 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about North Carolina State University.
Quick Facts
28,422
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
85%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you find out as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Discover some relevant info about admission policy and requirements at North Carolina State University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 18,382 in 2025. North Carolina State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 24.86% and ACT scores 41.34%. 40% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 51% between 1,200 and 1,399, 8% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 44.8, 39.8 between 24-29, 14.4 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 29 and the average GPA was 3.83. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into North Carolina State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 680 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 680.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to North Carolina State University is June 1. If you are applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is June 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for North Carolina State University was 93%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 85%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at North Carolina State University in 2025 was 38,464.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 11. There was a total of 28,422 undergraduate students, including 514 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,574.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 15,943 male and 15,925 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at North Carolina State University.
This school had 2,128 Asian students and 1,291 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,008 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,065 identified with more than one race. The school also had 15 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 73 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 211 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at North Carolina State University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about North Carolina State University estimated tuition costs.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $6,535, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $31,500 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school came to $31,500, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $2,492.5 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $31,500 | $2,493 | $33,992 |
| In-State | $6,535 | $2,493 | $9,027 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $624.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at North Carolina State University amounted to $14,741 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $8,335, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,522.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,535 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,741 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 624 |
| Total Expense | $ 21,900 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at North Carolina State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 2,614 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $14,899 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
10,162 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 10,899. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $30,564,092, and state $20,759,168. The students of North Carolina State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $70,492,033, and external in the amount of $6,837,022.
$5,697
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 840 students overall (including freshmen) at North Carolina State University in 2025. 214 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $30,564,092 while the state aid is $30,678. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $13,324,675. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $6,393,908 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at North Carolina State University was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 2,285. This number included 1,314 male and 971 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at North Carolina State University.
It has a campus size of 2,140 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Spanish Club at NCSU, followed by Pre-Veterinary Medical Association at NCSU and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Other popular organizations at North Carolina State University are Pre-Health Club and Student Alumni Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the North Carolina State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? North Carolina State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At North Carolina State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of North Carolina State University.
All in all, campus life at North Carolina State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at North Carolina State University.
Career Counselling
At North Carolina State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, NC.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for North Carolina State University is 41%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for North Carolina State University is 93%.
Contact Information
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
CB 7001
Raleigh , NC
27695-7102
919 515-2434
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.