North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It enrolls 27,371 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Excellent
85/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes93
Value84
Affordability41
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 41.7%, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
41.7%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1300 – 1470
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether North Carolina State University at Raleigh is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending North Carolina State University at Raleigh isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,303 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,303
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,799
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$32,847
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,332
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,332
Books & Supplies
$876
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,230
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,230
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,425
Application fee: $85 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,382
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,758
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,334
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,087
Over $110,000
$24,652
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,70310%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$20,121Medianpercentile
$26,78675%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,150
↓ $2,971
No Pell $17,500
↓ $2,621
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $2,621
Independent students $16,500
↓ $3,621
Female students $17,202
↓ $2,919
Male students $17,500
↓ $2,621
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,250, less than completers ($20,121), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
94%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of $68,758 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$68,758
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$59,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is home to 27,371 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
27,371
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.1%18,103
Asian 9.8%2,677
Hispanic 9.4%2,578
Black 5.9%1,609
Other 5.5%1,511
International 2.3%638
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRaleigh, North Carolina
Housing
Partly residential10,291 beds available
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
240 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$20,511
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.0B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$112,917
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,868 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
753
40%
$144,953
Associate Professors
467
25%
$108,621
Assistant Professors
476
25%
$91,967
Lecturers
172
9%
$62,107
Pros & Cons of North Carolina State University at Raleigh
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Carolina State University at Raleigh tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh hard to get into?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 41.7%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh has an acceptance rate of 41.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
The middle 50% of admitted students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh scored between 1300 and 1470 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
The middle 50% of admitted students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh scored between 28 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh cost?
The average net price after aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is $17,303 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $68,758 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,303 per year. That's roughly 4.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Carolina State University at Raleigh known for?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Carolina State University at Raleigh are $68,758, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh accredited?
Yes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh enrolls 27,371 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh a public or private college?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a Public institution.
Where is North Carolina State University at Raleigh located?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What programs does North Carolina State University at Raleigh offer?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 240 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Computer Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Biology
Business Administration
Related Guides
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American Colleges by the Numbers
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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