About

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

land grant universityengineering focusedhigh research activityselective public universitystrong stem programs

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public research university in Raleigh, NC, known for its land grant university, engineering focused, and high research activity. With an acceptance rate of 47%, NC State is moderately selective, typically enrolling around 5,627 students each year. NC State is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1290–1440, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. NC State offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $8,289 per year; the sticker price of $45,771 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

North Carolina State University at Raleigh acceptance rate and admitted student profile

moderately selective

47%
Overall Accept Rate
3.75
Typical Admitted GPA
1365
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1290 – 1440 (test optional)

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to North Carolina State University at Raleigh

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
NC State's application puts real weight on why you want to study your specific major, so connect your interest to something concrete at NC State, like a specific lab, research center, or industry partnership tied to their strengths in engineering, agriculture, or design.
Test Score Strategy
Since NC State is test optional and your score is below their 75th percentile, leave it off your application and let your GPA, course rigor, and activities speak for you instead.

Get a tailored strategy for North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What North Carolina State University at Raleigh actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$46k/yr$6.4k
30k-48k~$46k/yr$8.8k
48k-75k~$46k/yr$13.3k
75k-110k~$46k/yr$20.1k
110k+~$46k/yr$24.7k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

85%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$58k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
14:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
24,646
Undergrad Enrollment
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch