North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
41.7%
Acceptance Rate
$8,799
Avg Cost (In-State)
$32,847
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
84.7%
Graduation Rate
27,371
Total Enrollment
We're showing you this because it offers your suggested major.
← Back to data science collegesBy the numbers
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
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
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
$57,623
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$68,758
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
85%
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.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $56,877 | $84,349 | 573 |
| Biology, General. | $36,157 | $61,384 | 236 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $69,078 | $87,112 | 212 |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering. | $45,078 | $71,837 | 210 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $39,889 | $62,039 | 207 |
| Computer Science. | $85,809 | $113,478 | 199 |
| Animal Sciences. | $33,332 | $53,226 | 181 |
| Psychology, General. | $29,738 | $62,032 | 181 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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.
NC State Power Sound of the South Scholarship
$500-$2,500/yr
universityAudition-based award for NC State 'Power Sound of the South' marching band.
Deadline: Spring tryouts
Learn more ↗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 ↗National YoungArts Week
Up to $10,000 + Presidential Scholar nomination
activityYoungArts winners invited to Miami for masterclasses and performances with top artists.
Deadline: By invitation after YoungArts application
Learn more ↗Pat Tillman Foundation Tillman Scholar Program
Avg $10,000/year (varies)
militaryActive-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses pursuing graduate / professional degrees; leadership + service.
Deadline: February
Learn more ↗NAEF (North America Scholastic Esports Federation) Scholarship
Up to $5,000
nationalHigh school esports competitors participating in NAEF-affiliated leagues.
Deadline: April
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $6,382 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $8,758 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $13,334 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $20,087 |
| $110,001+ | $24,652 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for North Carolina State University at Raleigh →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 41.7% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
38%
acceptance
Overall ~41%; engineering/CS far lower.
Source ↗Regular Decision
41.74%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
19.6%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
19.3%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
15.7%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
94.5%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
84.8%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
For transfer students
Transferring in to North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
47%
Transfer admit rate
2.5
Min transfer GPA
NC C2C Articulation
State articulation
C2C partner. Engineering and CS direct-admit transfers competitive (3.5+ effective floor).
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
41.8% acceptance
Both admit around 42% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
41.6% acceptance
Both admit around 42% of applicants, with 30k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
42.4% acceptance
Both admit around 42% of applicants, with 36k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
43.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (43% vs 42%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $33k.
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL
38% acceptance
Similar selectivity (38% vs 42%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $33k.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (52% vs 42%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $33k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 42%) — a stretch target if North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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 42%) — a stretch target if North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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 42%) — a stretch target if North Carolina State University at Raleigh is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
54.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (55% vs 42%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 42%) — 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 42%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From NC community colleges
articulation onlyNC State participates in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the UNC System and the North Carolina Community College System, guaranteeing admission to NCCCS graduates with the Associate in Arts/Science and a 2.5+ GPA. The C3 program with Wake Tech offers cooper…
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