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North Carolina State University at Raleigh: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Cleveland, North Carolina · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
29%
37,082 applicants
Avg SAT
1500
Mid 50: 1450–1530
In-state tuition
$64,671
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$38,909
after aid, what families pay

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a private institution located in Cleveland, 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 29%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1501 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,909 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether North Carolina State University at Raleigh is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Admitted students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
17.9%
3.75–3.99
46.8%
3.50–3.74
24.3%
3.25–3.49
9.3%
3.00–3.24
1.4%
2.50–2.99
0.2%
Below 2.50
0.1%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
Calculate your child's GPA →

What does North Carolina State University at Raleigh weight in admissions?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important4 factors
  • • Rigor of secondary school record
  • • Class rank
  • • Academic GPA
  • • Extracurricular activities
Important6 factors
  • • Application essay
  • • Recommendations
  • • Interview
  • • Talent/ability
  • • Character/personal qualities
  • • Volunteer work
Considered5 factors
  • • Standardized test scores
  • • First generation status
  • • Alumni/ae relation
  • • Work experience
  • • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered3 factors
  • • Geographical residence
  • • State residency
  • • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 730–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1450
50th percentile1500
75th percentile1530
% submitting SAT46%
ACT Composite
25th percentile32
50th percentile34
75th percentile35
% submitting ACT23%
Current testing policy
  • • 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 class74.48%
Top 25% of class94.41%
Top 50% of class99.65%
% submitting class rank17.67%

How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh actually cost?

Published tuition is $64,671 for in-state students and $64,671 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,202 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,909 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$68,660
Room and board$19,514
Average net price (after aid)$38,909
Application fee$75 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification date3/19
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadline11/1
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadline11/1

Will my child graduate from North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
92%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
71.93%
finished on time
6-year graduation
86.89%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like North Carolina State University at Raleigh recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Ask the AI counselor →Compare other colleges →

Common questions parents ask about North Carolina State University at Raleigh

What GPA do I need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

Admitted students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.

What SAT or ACT score does North Carolina State University at Raleigh typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 730–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35.

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 $38,909 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by North Carolina State University at Raleigh, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.