NC State University
Raleigh, NC
47%
Acceptance Rate
$9,991
Avg Cost (In-State)
$30,869
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
81%
Graduation Rate
37,751
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
2
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$85
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay (Common App essay) and one NC State supplemental essay responding to provided prompts
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$49,814
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$61,675
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
84%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at NC State University
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (ELS)
Up to $3,200/year at UNC schools
stateNC residents attending UNC system schools with financial need (EFC of $5,846 or less).
Deadline: Varies by institution (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗UNC Morehead-Cain Scholarship
Full cost of attendance + 4 summer enrichment programs
universityTop ~70 UNC incoming freshmen via nomination. One of the most prestigious U.S. merit scholarships.
Deadline: Nominated by HS via October 17
Learn more ↗UNC Carolina Covenant
Debt-free degree for low-income families
universityAdmitted UNC students from families at or below 200% federal poverty level (~$60k for family of 4).
Deadline: FAFSA + CSS Profile
Learn more ↗NC Need-Based Scholarship (Privates)
Up to ~$11,000/year (sliding scale)
stateNC residents at NC private 4-year colleges with documented financial need.
Deadline: FAFSA + school
Learn more ↗NC Community College Grant
Up to $2,800/year
stateNC residents at NC community colleges with EFC up to $5,250.
Deadline: FAFSA
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
18.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
17.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
89.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
14.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
47.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
93.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
85.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
46.3% acceptance
Both admit around 46% of applicants, with 36k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
48% acceptance
Both admit around 48% of applicants, with 61k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
45.9% acceptance
Both admit around 46% of applicants, with 27k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
43.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (43% vs 47%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $31k.
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL
38% acceptance
Similar selectivity (38% vs 47%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $31k.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (52% vs 47%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $31k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 47%) — a stretch target if NC State University is already on your list.
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 47%) — a stretch target if NC State University is already on your list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 47%) — a stretch target if NC State University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 47%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 47%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX
57.4% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 47%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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