North Carolina State University at Raleigh

What is the history of North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh was founded in 1887 as a public land-grant college focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. That origin helps explain its continuing emphasis on applied research, engineering, agriculture and service to North Carolina.

The institution opened as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It later became North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering before adopting its present university identity. Its academic scope expanded well beyond its original fields to include the humanities, social sciences, design, business and veterinary medicine. The development of Centennial Campus added a major setting for research and collaboration alongside the university's older Main Campus.

What are the faculties and departments at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State organizes its academic programs across 10 colleges, with options ranging from bachelor's degrees to graduate and professional study. Students should use the current academic catalog to check a particular major's curriculum, entry requirements and degree type.

The colleges are Agriculture and Life Sciences; Design; Education; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Natural Resources; the Poole College of Management; Sciences; the Wilson College of Textiles; and Veterinary Medicine. A Graduate School coordinates graduate education across disciplines. Undergraduate choices include computer science, biological sciences, psychology, accounting, forestry, architecture and textile-related fields, among many others.

Some paths have additional selection or progression rules. Engineering applicants, for example, should distinguish admission to the university from later requirements for entry into a specific engineering degree program. Veterinary medicine is a professional program rather than an undergraduate major. NC State reported approximately $511 million in research expenditures for the fiscal year represented in its institutional figures; undergraduates interested in research should look for opportunities within their own departments rather than assume every project is open to all students.

What is the location of North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State is in Raleigh, North Carolina, a state capital within the Research Triangle region. Its Main Campus, Centennial Campus and other university sites give students different academic settings within the same city.

Main Campus contains many classrooms, residence halls and student services. Centennial Campus includes academic and research facilities, including the James B. Hunt Jr. Library. Travel between sites matters when planning a course schedule or choosing housing. Raleigh's bus services and university transit can be useful, but travel time depends on the route and time of day; parking also requires attention to university rules. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is the region's principal commercial airport.

What is the mission and vision of North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State describes its mission in land-grant terms: education, research and engagement intended to serve North Carolina and address wider challenges. Its stated priorities connect classroom learning with the creation and application of knowledge.

That purpose is reflected in its mix of professional programs, research activity and extension work, particularly in fields such as agriculture and engineering. These are the university's stated aims, not a guarantee that every student will have the same experience. NC State is a public university and has no institutional religious affiliation.