NC State: the complete school report for parents
NC State puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 39.5% admit rate and 78% of enrolled students at a 3.75 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer Science graduates earn a median $111,385 against $39,789 for Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.
NC State is officially North Carolina State University at Raleigh, also known as N C State University or Ncsu. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
Is NC State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places NC State against the figures above. No account needed.
What does NC State actually weigh in admissions?
NC State rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is NC State's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How NC State rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Important |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does NC State consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does NC State consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does NC State consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider recommendation letters?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider class rank?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does NC State consider demonstrated interest?
No. NC State does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does NC State consider an interview?
No. NC State does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does NC State consider legacy status?
No. NC State does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does NC State consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does NC State consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does NC State consider religious affiliation?
No. NC State does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
78% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.84 on a 4 scale, reported for 98.11% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 19.93% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 58.27% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 18.89% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 2.26% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.41% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.21% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0.03% |
What is the NC State waitlist really like?
NC State offered a place on its waiting list to 10,710 applicants and 4,311 accepted one. 476 were ultimately admitted. That is 11.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
NC State admitted 44.7% of 5,383 transfer applicants, against 39.5% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
NC State reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | June 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | March 30 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $85 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
NC State requires 15 academic units and recommends 15. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 3 years | 3 years |
| of which lab science | 1 year | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 0 years | 2 years |
| History | 1 year | Not stated |
| Visual / performing arts | 0 years | Not stated |
What will NC State actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $17,303 a year at NC State after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $6,535. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 75% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 299 merit awards averaging $4,921 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $6,382 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $8,758 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $13,334 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $20,087 |
| Over $110,000 | $24,652 |
44% of NC State graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $25,393 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $213 a month in repayment. NC State’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from NC State pay off?
Graduates earn a median $68,758 ten years after entering, and $57,623 at six years. 87% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 75% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $25,528 | 1.0 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $35,032 | 1.4 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $53,336 | 2.2 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $80,348 | 3.2 |
| Over $110,000 | $98,608 | 4.0 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$111,385 to $39,789, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at NC State:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $111,385 | 281 |
| Computer Engineering | $110,896 | 136 |
| Chemical Engineering | $103,529 | 161 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $99,115 | 127 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $97,818 | 184 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,136 | 249 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,995 | 107 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $83,729 | 179 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $81,060 | 841 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $51,631 | 131 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,286 | 85 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $39,789 | 25 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
94% of first-years return for a second year. 85% within six (Fall 2019 cohort).
How big are the classes?
32% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 6% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1, and 88% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at NC State like?
29,340 undergraduates, 12% of first-years from out of state. 97% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 36% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 11% of men join a fraternity and 15% of women a sorority. 19% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $64,180.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. NC State recommends 15 academic units.
- 78% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.84. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 476 of 4,311 who waited were admitted, about 11%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $111,385 five years out against $39,789 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about NC State
What GPA do you need for NC State?
78% of enrolled students at NC State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the NC State waitlist move?
4,311 students accepted a place on the NC State waiting list and 476 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do NC State graduates earn?
NC State graduates earn a median $68,758 ten years after entering, and 87% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with NC State
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: NC State’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.