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North Carolina State University at Raleigh

#257 in US ranking Raleigh, NC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh award
North Carolina State University at Raleigh award

Cost

Cost / year
$27,073
Tuition & fees
$9,027
Avg. aid
$11,592
Receiving aid
69%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
42%
SAT range
1300–1470
ACT range
28–32

Outcomes

Graduation rate
85%
Median salary
$54,937
1 yr after graduation

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

NC State holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation reviews the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree program.

Selected professional programs have additional accreditation relevant to their fields. Examples include ABET accreditation for specified engineering programs, AACSB accreditation in business, and American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation for the veterinary medicine program. Applicants should verify the exact program and degree covered, since accreditation does not automatically extend to every offering in a college.

Institutional accreditation is an important condition for participation in federal student aid programs. It can also matter when another school evaluates transfer credit, but it does not require that school to accept a particular course. For careers requiring licensure, students need to check the applicable program accreditation and the rules of the state where they expect to practice.

What are the admission requirements at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

First-year admission to NC State is selective and requires an application, a secondary-school academic record and completion of the courses required for admission to a University of North Carolina System institution. Applicants may use the application routes accepted by NC State for their entry term and should check the current admissions calendar for early-action and regular-decision dates.

Admissions figures show 18,385 offers from 44,047 first-year applications, an acceptance rate of about 42%. This is an institution-wide figure, not an admission probability for an individual applicant or a particular major. NC State considers academic performance and preparation in the context of the intended program; admission to some majors can be more competitive than the overall rate suggests.

Applicants should follow NC State's instructions for reporting courses, grades, essays and any requested supplemental material. Recommendations and class rank may be considered but are not generally required. SAT and ACT rules can change by entry year and applicant circumstances, so applicants should confirm the policy for their term rather than assume scores are either universally required or universally unnecessary. Among enrolled first-time students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1355 on the SAT and 30 on the ACT; those medians do not describe all enrolled students. Applicants educated in a language other than English may also need to document English proficiency under the university's applicable rules.

What are the application fees and waivers at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $85. It is an application charge, not tuition or an enrollment deposit, and paying it does not affect an admission decision.

Eligible applicants can request a fee waiver through an accepted application or another process specified by undergraduate admissions. Applicants facing financial hardship should check the accepted eligibility documentation and request procedure before submitting, because application systems may require the waiver request at submission. Graduate and professional programs can have different application charges and waiver rules.

What types of ROTC programs are available at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State has on-campus Army, Air Force and Navy ROTC opportunities. These programs combine university study with military leadership training, but participation requirements differ by branch and by whether a student holds an ROTC scholarship.

Students considering ROTC should review the relevant unit's course sequence, physical and medical standards, scholarship application process and commissioning requirements. A scholarship can come with a postgraduation service obligation; simply taking an introductory course should not be assumed to create the same commitment. The university also has a veterans affairs office for students using military education benefits, a separate matter from joining ROTC.

What are the requirements for transfer students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State admits transfer applicants and generally evaluates college-level work completed at accredited institutions. Transfer applicants must apply for a specific entry term and major; fall and spring entry are available, while summer opportunities and major availability should be checked for the intended term.

Applicants need to submit official college transcripts and any other records required for their circumstances. NC State publishes baseline transfer eligibility rules, but meeting a minimum GPA or credit threshold does not ensure admission: some majors require particular prerequisite courses or stronger academic records. A student with limited college coursework should also check whether high school records are required.

Admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate decisions. Course-equivalency resources can help with planning, but the official evaluation determines how accepted credits apply to NC State requirements. North Carolina community college students should also review the statewide Comprehensive Articulation Agreement and any applicable major-specific pathways. Applicants using exam credit or other prior learning should verify how that credit would be recorded and whether it satisfies the intended degree plan.

What types of study abroad programs are available at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?

NC State offers study abroad options that can include semester programs, shorter faculty-led experiences and opportunities arranged through partner or approved programs. The choice of program affects academic credit, cost, housing and eligibility for particular types of aid.

Students should work with study abroad advisers and their academic department before committing to a program. Advance course approval is particularly important when a required class must count toward a major or graduation. NC State also offers international education advising and study abroad funding resources; students receiving financial aid should ask how their specific aid package applies to their chosen program rather than assume all expenses will be covered.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh Admissions Factors

SAT range
1300–1470
4001600
ACT range
28–32
136
Acceptance rate
42%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
42%
North Carolina
75%
US
78%

32% of admitted students enrolled (5,839 of 18,385)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

North Carolina State University at Raleigh Admissions

Applicants
Total: 44,047
Admission
Total: 18,385
Enrolled
Total: 5,839
Women
Men

How to Apply to North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Regular application deadline

June 1

Application fee

$85

Early Decision

No

Early Action

Yes, deadline November 1

North Carolina State University at Raleigh First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 5,027
Out-of-state: 714
International: 79

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 5,839
Transfer: 1,659

North Carolina State University at Raleigh Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1355

Median composite ACT score

30

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

29%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

11%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Navy

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

North Carolina State University at Raleigh Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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