Colleges › North Carolina › North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits a bit under 50% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, and the data below says what "strong" means.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
North Carolina State University at Raleigh sits in Raleigh proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $113,478 four years out. 19.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 27,371 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 94.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1300 and 1460 — above the NC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on North Carolina State University at Raleigh's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, North Carolina State University at Raleigh received 40,049 applications and admitted 15,958 (39.8%), with 5,728 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1300–1460 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 640 | 680 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 660 | 700 | 740 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How North Carolina State University at Raleigh compares
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 41.7% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,799 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $68,758 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors North Carolina State University at Raleigh: $68,758 median at year ten, versus $45,873 across North Carolina institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,799 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $32,847. For non-residents, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's $32,847 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a big school: 27,371 undergraduates at last count.
84.8% of North Carolina State University at Raleigh students finish a bachelor's within six years — 29.9 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $8,799 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $113,478 |
| Computer Engineering | $110,416 |
| Chemical Engineering | $104,705 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $102,178 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $100,212 |
| Industrial Engineering | $100,172 |
| Engineering, General | $99,838 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $98,129 |
| Construction Engineering | $94,505 |
| Mathematics | $92,594 |
| Materials Engineering | $89,968 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $89,932 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $89,826 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,112 |
| Forestry | $86,357 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $85,808 |
| Civil Engineering | $85,568 |
| Statistics | $85,090 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $84,848 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $84,349 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $83,689 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $82,096 |
| Chemistry | $76,978 |
| Architecture | $76,695 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $75,508 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $73,362 |
| Food Science and Technology | $72,782 |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | $71,837 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $71,136 |
| Environmental Design | $69,851 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $68,671 |
| Science, Technology and Society | $67,468 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $66,491 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $65,594 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $64,510 |
| Political Science and Government | $62,824 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,039 |
| Psychology, General | $62,032 |
| Biology, General | $61,384 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $61,382 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $61,023 |
| Botany/Plant Biology | $60,715 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $60,488 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $60,122 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $60,031 |
| Philosophy | $58,285 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $57,022 |
| Genetics | $55,319 |
| Criminology | $55,303 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $54,007 |
| Agriculture, General | $53,969 |
| Animal Sciences | $53,226 |
| Social Work | $53,209 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $52,233 |
| Sociology | $52,142 |
| Plant Sciences | $51,696 |
| Physics | $51,590 |
| History | $49,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,824 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,338 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $46,772 |
| Anthropology | $45,890 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $38,440 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $35,867 |
Median earnings for these 64 North Carolina State University at Raleigh programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $68,758 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 13 additional North Carolina State University at Raleigh programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1300–1460 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 41.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is North Carolina State University at Raleigh's acceptance rate?
39.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 15,958 admitted from 40,049 applicants.
How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh cost?
In-state tuition is $8,799; out-of-state students pay $32,847. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $68,758 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- North Carolina A & T State University — 49.9% admitted
- Louisburg College — 55.8% admitted
- Livingstone College — 59.3% admitted
- Johnson C Smith University — 45.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.