North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) is ranked in the top 50 U.S. public universities, and number three in the U.S. among public universities that receive funding for research. Research is a foundation of the academic culture at NC State, and 70 percent of the university's faculty conduct research. Many graduate students are supported by research funding.
NC State has its primary campuses located in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is considered one of the best places to live and work in the U.S. The university's campuses - Main Campus (comprised of South, Central, North, West and East campuses) and Centennial Campus - are located in a region that boasts some of the country's top technology, research and pharmaceutical companies.
Known as "the People's University," NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 8,000 faculty and staff. Since many of its classes are large, the university has a policy of providing smaller discussion groups and labs so students get more learning opportunities. NC State has established the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, which provides research-based information to statewide communities.
History
Established in 1887 and opened in 1889, North Carolina State University began as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In the 1900s, the school established the Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service at State College, which led to many more extension programs, research and outreach work and, eventually, to an official name change. The curricula expanded greatly over the years, moving far beyond agriculture and mechanic arts to offer all major academic disciplines and to receive top ranking in a number of disciplines.
Academics
NC State has 12 colleges and schools offering all major academic disciplines. Through its history, NC State has been a leading university in agriculture, forestry, wood and paper science, engineering, textiles, veterinary medicine and design. It is also strong in all the sciences, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and computer science. NC State also has strong departments in the humanities and social sciences and mathematics, among others.
NC State's state-of-the-art research programs are among its highlights, offering students the opportunity to work on campus and off with leading researchers in many fields. NC State has made many important research discoveries, with roughly 660 patents to its credit. Some of NC State's "firsts" include the prototype for the artificial retina, and the first synthetic aorta.
Colleges and Schools
The 12 colleges and schools of NC State University are:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Design
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Poole College of Management
- College of Natural Resources
- College of Physical Mathematical Sciences
- College of Textiles
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- First Year College
- Graduate School
Athletics
The NC State University's athletics teams are known as the "Wolfpacks" or "Packs" for short. North Carolina State University teams have won two NCAA national championships and two AIAVV titles, among others. NC State competes in 23 intercollegiate sports.
The school also offers 45 different club sports to NC State students, including 18 intramural leagues for all skill levels.
Student Life
Known as the "People's College," NC State has more than 400 organizations and activities for students to get involved in. The myriad categories include:
- Arts & cultural activities
- Academic organizations & honorary societies
- Service groups
- Graduate student associations
- Peer group, lifestyle & diversity initiatives
- Political & social action groups
- Professional & career support
- Religious & spiritual organizations
- Special interest opportunities
- Sports, recreation & leisure activities
- Student governing boards
- Student media & publications
There are also many leadership opportunities through NC State's service-learning programs and community service initiatives that integrate community work with academics.
Year-round arts and entertainment programs and activities are also available for students and faculty. There are arts organizations and exhibits, on-campus cinema, media outlets, theatres, crafts centers, dance performances, music performances and the summer TheatreFest.
The Division of Student Affairs at NC State offers support and services to students through many extracurricular recreational activities.
There are many choices for on-campus housing at NC State including residence halls at East, West and Central campuses. There are also the "Living and Learning Villages," which are residence halls devoted to grouping students with similar lifestyle or academic interests. The Wolf Village Apartments, Western Manor and E.S. King Village are conveniently located off-campus apartment complexes for married students.
Fraternities and Sororities
There are many fraternities and sororities open to students on the NC State campus. There are local chapters of national organizations as well as many "social" groups who are involved in a variety of leadership, service, academic and social activities.
The school has issued a warning that the Zeta Psi fraternity has been suspended from the university for being found responsible for hazing and alcohol violations, among other infractions.
Traditions
Holladay Hall, which was built in 1889, was the first campus building for NC State and is still considered its "main building."
The "Free Expression Tunnel," a tunnel that connects two halves of NC State's Central Campus, was established in the 1960's as a place where students could express themselves through wall graffiti.
NC State's school colors are red and white, although the original school colors were pink and blue.
The school mascot became the "Wolfpack" in 1922 after its students were described as behaving like a "wolf pack" at sporting events.
An NC State student wrote the words to the school's fight song in 1926:
NCSU Fight Song
Shout aloud to the men who will play the game to win
We're behind you, keep fighting for State---
Hold that line, hold 'em fast,
We'll reach victory at last
We're behind you, keep fighting for State---
Rise up to the fray and let your colors wave,
Shout out for dear old N.C. State --GO STATE!
And where-e'er we go,
we'll let the whole world know,
We're behind you, keep fighting for State.
Community Life
NC State is a land-grant institution and, as such, it encourages and promotes community involvement in every department through extension programs, engagement initiatives, economic development efforts and many partnerships with outside organizations.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may provide a better idea of the candidates NC State University accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
The total student enrollment at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is about 34,000. The enrollment breakdown by academic level is 13% enrolling as graduate students and 71% as undergraduate students.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $13,600. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $80 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are:
- State Residents: $6,200-$7,500
- Out-of-State: $23,000-$27,090
- Charges per unit:
- In-State: $210-$250 per unit
- Out-of-State: $770-$920 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The information below lists the financial aid types students are receiving. Also shown are the percent of students receiving aid and the average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 70% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 54% | $10,609 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 45% | $6,196 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, North Carolina State University at Raleigh may offer student services like:- Online classes
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Work study style employment
- Assistance to find work
Graduation Rates
North Carolina State University at Raleigh has a high graduation rate when compared to nearby similar schools.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 40% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 26% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 6% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Graphic Design Program
- Industrial Design Program
- School Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
NC State University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-A classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Basketball (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Track and Field (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Football (Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Rifle
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by North Carolina State University at Raleigh by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Animal Science (B, D, M)
- Agricultural Business (B)
- Agricultural Business and Management (A)
- Animal Husbandry and Production (A)
- Agriculture (A, B)
- Agricultural Mechanization (B)
- Horticultural Science (B, D, M)
- Food Science (B, D, M)
- Poultry Science (B, M)
- Crop Production (A)
- Agronomy and Crop Science (B, D, M)
- Turf Management (A, B)
- Agricultural and Extension Education Services (B, D, M)
- Landscaping (A)
- Soil Science and Agronomy (D, M)
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management (A)
- Soil Sciences (B)
- Agricultural Economics
- Horticulture
Architecture
- Architecture (B, M)
- Environmental Design, Architecture (B, D)
- Landscape Architect (B, M)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
- Biochemistry (B, D, M)
- Zoology (B, D, M)
- Physiology (D, M)
- Biotechnology (M)
- Microbiology (B, D, M)
- Genetics (B, D, M)
- Botany (B, D)
- Bioinformatics (D)
- Plant Pathology, Phytopathology (D, M)
- Entomology (D, M)
- Immunology (M)
- Toxicology (D, M)
- Biometry, Biometrics (D, M)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Business Economics (B)
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B)
- Organizational Communication (M)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B, D, M)
- Data Modeling & Database Administration (DBA) (M)
- Computer Networking (M)
- Computer Programming
Education
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (M)
- Elementary Education (B)
- Curriculum and Instruction (D, M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (B, D, M)
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration (D, M)
- Higher Education Administration (D, M)
- Technology Teacher Education Teacher Education (B, D, M)
- Middle School Teacher (B)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
- Science Teacher (B, D, M)
- Education (B)
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services (M)
- Agricultural Teacher Education (B)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (B)
- Guidance Counselor (D, M)
- Educational Evaluation and Research (D)
- Social Studies Teacher Education (B)
- Special Education (M)
- Sales and Marketing Operations Teacher Education (B)
- Spanish Language Teacher Education (B)
- French Language Teacher Education (B)
- History Teacher Education
Engineering
- Textile Sciences and Engineering (B, D, M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Chemical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Mechanical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Civil Engineering (B, D, M)
- Computer Engineering (B, D, M)
- Industrial Engineering (B, D, M)
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bioengineering (B, D, M)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Biomedical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Nuclear Engineering (B, D, M)
- Materials Engineering (B, D, M)
- Construction Engineering (B)
- Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering (B, M)
- Engineering (B, M)
- Manufacturing Engineer (M)
- Operations Research (D, M)
Engineering Technology
- Environmental Engineering Technology and Environmental Technology (B)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
- Technical and Business Writing (M)
- Creative Writing (M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Women's Studies (B)
- German Studies (B)
- African-American Black Studies (B)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Family Studies (M)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- Foreign Languages and Literatures (M)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Veterinary Medicine (D)
- Veterinary Sciences (D, M)
History
- History (B, M)
- Public and Applied History and Archival Administration (M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- International and Global Studies (B)
- Nutrition (B, D, M)
- Systems Science and Theory (M)
- Science, Technology and Society (B)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B, M)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, D, M)
- Statistics (B, D, M)
- Applied Mathematics (B, D, M)
- Financial Mathematics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Science (B, M)
- Environmental and Wildlife Management (B, D, M)
- Wood Science and Wood Products, Pulp and Paper Technology (B, D, M)
- Natural Resources Management and Policy (B, M)
- Forest Resources Management (B)
- Forestry (D, M)
- Environmental Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Religious Studies (B)
- Philosophy (B)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
- Meteorology (B)
- Oceanography, Chemical and Physical (B)
- Geology (B)
Psychology
- Psychology (B, D, M)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (B, M)
- Public Administration (D, M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Management (B)
- Parks and Recreation Management (B, D, M)
Science Technology
Social Sciences
- Political Science (B)
- Criminology (B)
- Sociology (B, D, M)
- Economics (D, M)
- Anthropology (B, M)
- International Relations (M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Visual Communications (B, M)
- Arts Management (B)
- Graphic Design (B, M)
- Art History (B)
- Industrial Design (B, M)
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to North Carolina State University at Raleigh.
- North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC (19 miles away)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC (24 miles away)
- Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC (51 miles away)
- North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC (65 miles away)
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, NC (67 miles away)
Also, you can compare schools by looking through our list of colleges & universities:
- Get a list of all the colleges in North Carolina
- Find out what other state universities are located in North Carolina
