North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) is a public research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, enrolling about 27,371 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 41.74% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $68,758 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,799
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $17,303 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 41.74% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 27,371 94.2% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 84.76%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 19.3%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 2.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 87.7%
  • Average SAT Score: 1376
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 30,946
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 40,049
  • Room & Board: $14,332 annual estimate

North Carolina State University at Raleigh: what the data shows

Common questions about North Carolina State University at Raleigh, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (ZIP 27695-7001).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh public or private?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a Public institution.

How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh cost?

Published tuition: $8,799 in-state, $32,847 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $17,303.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$6,382
$30,001–$48,000$8,758
$48,001–$75,000$13,334
$75,001–$110,000$20,087
$110,001+$24,652

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $35,196.

How hard is it to get into North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Admission rate: 41.74%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1376 and midpoint ACT 30.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Total enrollment: 27,371 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 30,946 students.

Graduate enrollment: 10,042 students.

About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

150%-time completion rate: 84.76%.

First-year retention: 94.5%.

What do graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn?

Median earnings: $57,623 six years after entry; $68,758 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,121.

19.58% of students receive Pell grants.

What is North Carolina State University at Raleigh known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 41.74%; completion rate 84.76%; median earnings $68,758 at 10 years; net price $17,303. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$8,799
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at North Carolina State University at Raleigh was $8,799.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$17,303
2024 Value

In 2024 North Carolina State University at Raleigh had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,303.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$69,212 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$17,303 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$35,196 4-Year In-State Tuition

$131,388 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$14,332 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$876 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$24,007 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$96,028 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Financial Aid by Income Level

19.58% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

33.45% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at North Carolina State University at Raleigh was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for North Carolina State University at Raleigh in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$8,206$21,661$13,164
2014$8,296$23,551$14,811
2015$8,581$24,932$14,988
2016$8,880$26,399$14,682
2017$9,058$27,406$15,024
2018$9,101$28,444$16,404
2019$9,101$29,220$16,458
2020$9,101$29,220$16,411
2021$9,131$29,916$16,239
2022$9,128$30,869$16,563
2023$8,895$31,767$16,931

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

41.74% Acceptance Rate

40,049 Total Applicants

15,958 Students Admitted

5,728 First-Time Students Enrolled

35.89% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1376

ACT Average: 30

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7

Estimated Median GPA: 3.60

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

North Carolina State University at Raleigh reported total enrollment of about 27,371 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (66.1%), Asian (9.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.4%). About 19.58% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 19.3% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

94.2% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at North Carolina State University at Raleigh in 2024 is 27,371 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 30,946 students. Graduate enrollment is about 10,042 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

94.5%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 66.1%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

67.65% 100% Completion Time

84.76% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 67.65% of students graduating from North Carolina State University at Raleigh completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Business Administration and Management, General: 57% male / 43% female
  • Computer Science: 77% male / 23% female
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 29% male / 71% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Return on Investment

$20,121 Median Student Debt

$68,758 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

29.26% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

893.44% Return on Investment

2.9 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 153 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Business Administration and Management, General: 961 completions

2. Computer Science: 647 completions

3. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 442 completions

4. Computer Engineering, General: 417 completions

5. Mechanical Engineering: 397 completions

6. Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 367 completions

7. Psychology, General: 363 completions

8. Management Science: 298 completions

9. Textile Sciences and Engineering: 259 completions

Most popular programs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for North Carolina State University at Raleigh from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 87.7%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,820
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $18,060

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution located in Raleigh, NC, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Computer Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 27,371 students. Student body composition includes White (66.1%), Asian (9.8%), Hispanic or Latino (9.4%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 41.74%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1376. The 150%-time completion rate is 84.76%. Approximately 19.58% of students receive Pell Grants. About 19.3% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Raleigh, NC 27695-7001

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 84.76% graduation rate, North Carolina State University at Raleigh demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 153 distinct degree programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is NC State located?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC. The institution is also known as NC State.

What is NC State's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) is 41.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 40,049 applicants and 15,958 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does NC State cost?

Reported tuition is $8,799 and average net price is $17,303 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,332 annually.

What is the student body demographics at NC State?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports undergraduate enrollment of about 30,946 students, White (66.1%), Asian (9.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend NC State?

About 19.3% of students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports midpoint SAT about 1376 and midpoint ACT about 30.

What do graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn?

Median earnings are $57,623 six years after entry and $68,758 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

The 150%-time completion rate is 84.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do North Carolina State University at Raleigh students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,121.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh public or private?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution located in Raleigh, NC.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh an HBCU?

No. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh a tribal college?

No. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Raleigh, North Carolina city profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in North Carolina
  • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.