North Carolina State University at Raleigh: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Raleigh, North Carolina · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public university in Raleigh, North Carolina that admits about 40% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $17,303 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 40%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1390 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,303 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about North Carolina State University at Raleigh right now
North Carolina State drew 49,450 first-year applications for Fall 2025, admitted 39.5 percent of them and enrolled 5,904 students. The admitted middle 50 percent held a weighted high school GPA of 4.2 to 4.5, or 3.8 to 4.0 unweighted, and 55 percent of first-year students applied without submitting test scores, so for the majority of the class the transcript carried the decision rather than a score. NC State's character matters more to planning than its rate does. It is North Carolina's land-grant science and engineering flagship, and applicants apply into a specific college rather than to the university at large, so admission to engineering, computer science or design is a different and harder proposition than the university-wide 39.5 percent implies. Parents comparing NC State with Chapel Hill should treat them as different applications with different shapes rather than two draws on the same pool, since the programme a student names is part of the decision here in a way it is not everywhere.
What GPA does my child need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
78% of enrolled students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What does North Carolina State University at Raleigh weight in admissions?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
SAT and ACT scores North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1310 |
| 50th percentile | 1390 |
| 75th percentile | 1440 |
| % submitting SAT | 13% |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 40% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 41% |
| Top 25% of class | 78% |
| Top 50% of class | 97% |
| % submitting class rank | 75% |
How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,799 for in-state students and $32,847 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,332 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,303 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,535 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $31,500 |
| Room and board | $14,741 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,303 |
| Application fee | $85 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for North Carolina State University at Raleigh
| Regular deadline | June 1 |
| Notification date | March 30 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
These predict outcomes at North Carolina State University at Raleigh better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
The most popular undergraduate programs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Psychology, General. Across all programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh confers roughly 2,748 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $81,060 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 841 | $81,060 |
| Biology, General | 415 | $68,124 |
| Psychology, General | 305 | $53,870 |
| Computer Science | 281 | $111,385 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 249 | $91,136 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 240 | $55,642 |
| Animal Sciences | 213 | $52,790 |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | 204 | $71,193 |
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), North Carolina State University at Raleigh disclosed 69 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 10 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
About 36% of undergraduates at North Carolina State University at Raleigh live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 11% of men join a fraternity and 15% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about
- Appalachian State University90% acceptance
- East Carolina University89% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte80% acceptance
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro89% acceptance
- Davidson College13% acceptance
- Elon University66% acceptance
- High Point University75% acceptance
- Duke University6% acceptance
Next steps for North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Common questions parents ask about North Carolina State University at Raleigh
What GPA do I need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
78% of enrolled students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.
How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at North Carolina State University at Raleigh after grants and scholarships is $17,303 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,799 and $32,847 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh realistic for my child?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits 40% of applicants, so 650–750 SAT Math is target range and below 650 is a reach. Then check the $17,303 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh accepts about 40% of applicants out of roughly 49,350 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh test-optional?
Yes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
About 85% of students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduate within six years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does North Carolina State University at Raleigh look for in applicants?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh a public or private school, and where is it located?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What are the most popular majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
The largest undergraduate majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Psychology, General. The school awards about 2,748 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh safe? What is its campus crime rate?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh reported 69 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
At North Carolina State University at Raleigh, 36% of undergraduates live on campus, 11% of men are in fraternities, 15% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by North Carolina State University at Raleigh, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers