Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Raleigh, North Carolina
39.9% Acceptance Rate
North Carolina State University at Raleigh — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
39.9%Acceptance Rate
3.83Avg GPA
1380Avg SAT
30Avg ACT
$25,613Annual Cost
$68,758Grad Salary
19.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
39.9%
Avg GPA
3.83
Avg SAT
1380
Avg ACT
30
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1300–1460
ACT Middle 50%
28–32
Avg Net Price
$16,931
Need-Based Aid
19.1% receive Pell
North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina State University, founded in 1887, is a preeminent public research university and the largest institution in the UNC system. As North Carolina's land-grant university, NC State excels in engineering, agriculture, textiles, and veterinary medicine. The 2,100-acre campus in Raleigh features cutting-edge facilities including the James B. Hunt Jr. Library and the Fitts-Woolard Hall for engineering. NC State is classified as an R1 research university with over $500 million in annual research expenditures. The university's athletic teams, the Wolfpack, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
NC State takes pride in its 'Think and Do' philosophy that combines academic excellence with real-world problem solving. The campus maintains a 15:1 student-faculty ratio while offering the resources of a major research institution. Recent additions include the Plant Sciences Initiative complex and the new Sciences Building. NC State's Centennial Campus is a national model for university-industry partnerships. The university's combination of academic rigor, research impact, and spirited campus life makes it a powerhouse in higher education and economic development for North Carolina.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Acceptance Rate
North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits roughly 39.9% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 39.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier. A solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.38
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark October 1 for North Carolina State University at Raleigh (Spring Entry — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by November 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 58 days left — Spring Entry
Spring Entry
October 1
Decision by: November 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 31
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 31
💡 The scholarship deadline (2025/11/01 (Park Scholarship nomination and most university merit priority)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | is 3.83. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.53 and 3.83, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 4.03–4.23.NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective. This GPA sits within the typical admitted band.
Recommended Strategy: A top-5th-percentile SAT/ACT score makes the strongest case here.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.43 – 3.62
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.42
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- NC State admits students directly into their chosen major cohort rather than a general freshman pool, making your initial major selection the primary driver of your acceptance probability.
- The university utilizes the wolfPAW portal to track supplemental materials and missing items, requiring applicants to monitor their application status and submit final mid-year grades dynamically.
- The institution employs a friendly superscoring framework across all submitted standardized test sittings, considering the highest individual sub-scores across different test dates.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State |
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from North Carolina State University at Raleigh's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | ) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | . Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Without SAT or ACT?
NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Average SAT Score: 1380
Admitted students at North Carolina State University at Raleigh average a 1380 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1380 — Competitive
A 1380 average is a respectable, above-average benchmark nationally.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1460 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? North Carolina State University at Raleigh allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1300? A retake is worth it at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | . Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 700 | 660 | 740 |
| SAT Reading | 680 | 640 | 720 |
| SAT Composite | 1380 | 1300 | 1460 |
A score under 1300 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1460+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1400
Can I get into North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | ) with a 1450 SAT?
At 1450, your SAT is squarely in NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | 's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | ) ACT Requirements
NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | 's admitted students average an ACT of 30.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 30 — Very Competitive
NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | 's ACT average sits comfortably in the upper range nationally.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 29 | 26 | 31 |
| ACT English | 30 | 26 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 30 | 28 | 32 |
Can I get into North Carolina State University at Raleigh with a 32 ACT?
At 32, you're in the top quarter of NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | 's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State |
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Align Your Extracurricular Profile with Direct-to-Major Cohort Cap Constraints
NC State utilizes a direct-admissions engine that sorts freshman applications strictly by the first-choice major code selected on the Common Application. Because you are competing exclusively against the pool targeting that specific department, hyper-impacted programs-such as Computer Science within the College of Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, or Professional Golf Management-employ highly selective internal cutoffs. You must build an extracurricular record showing specialized domain depth. If you choose a highly competitive first-choice program, you must strategically use your second-choice major slot to pick a non-impacted backup program, as NC State lacks standard broad liberal arts general pools and will not dynamically re-route unqualified files into alternative colleges.
Protect Your NC State Recalculated Core STEM GPA with Advanced Coursework Rigor
While NC State reviews applicants holistically, the baseline for competitive review is anchored in a 3.75+ unweighted transcript profile, with the internal committee heavily favoring advanced STEM coursework. Admissions readers strip away high school elective fluff and calculate an unweighted core academic index. To satisfy the demands of this matrix, you must exceed the standard UNC System minimums by taking a full fourth or fifth year of advanced mathematics (such as AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics) and lab sciences. If you take a light senior year course load or experience a grade drop in a core area, it will compromise your academic index, leading to a prompt rejection or deferral on your wolfPAW portal.
Optimize Standardized Test Submission Based on the UNC System Policy Thresholds
NC State operates a test-optional model for students who maintain a weighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher. However, because the middle 50% for enrolled freshmen hovers at a high 1290-1440 on the SAT and 25-32 on the ACT, test submission acts as a critical strategic lever. If your self-reported scores hit or exceed these institutional mid-50% bands, you should submit them to add a definitive academic data point to your file. If your scores fall below, you can withhold them without disadvantage; the evaluation weight will smoothly pivot to your counselor recommendation and high school class rank.
Detail Domain-Specific Motivation in the Supplemental Essay Box
Because NC State does not conduct admissions interviews, your written supplemental essays carry the entire burden of displaying your institutional fit. Avoid writing broad, generic responses about wanting a large campus experience. Instead, use the supplemental text box to explicitly articulate why you chose your specific major, how your personal challenges shaped your intellectual trajectory, and how you intend to engage with NC State?s specialized infrastructure, such as the research labs on Centennial Campus.
Expert Insight: Treating NC State?s application as a broad liberal arts evaluation where a generic personal narrative can mask a weak core STEM transcript is a fatal error-because the university utilizes a major-specific tracking system, failing to align your academic course rigor and essay details with the exact department you select will result in an immediate rejection from the pool, regardless of your generalized leadership stats.
NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Profile
Full Name
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | )
City
Raleigh
State
North Carolina
ZIP Code
27695-7001
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Degree Worth It?
At $25,613/year against a $68,758 median graduate salary, NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $64,200, and graduates see a 3.05% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Cost?
Listed tuition runs $25,613/year at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | . Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $16,931.
At NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | , 19.1% receive a Pell Grant and 34% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | graduates report a median income of $68,758, about 69% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than North Carolina State University at Raleigh. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | 1362 | 30 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 1363 | 30 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as North Carolina State University at Raleigh. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | 1389 | 32 |
| St. John's College | Annapolis, MD | 1381 | 31 |
| St Olaf College | Northfield, MN | 1373 | 30 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | 1383 | 31 |
| Bard College | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | 1387 | 31 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than North Carolina State University at Raleigh. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | 1445 | 33 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 1433 | 33 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 1416 | 32 |
Degree Programs at NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State |
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | Admissions
North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates earn a moderate median salary of $68,758/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is relatively affordable, around $25,613/year.
19.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. North Carolina State University at Raleigh skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh's acceptance rate is 39.9%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 3.83, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.53 puts you in the standard applicant pool at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.43 or below makes admission tougher at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1380, and within the 1300–1460 range, keeps you competitive.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh's deadline is October 1 (Spring Entry), with decisions out by November 15.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh charges an application fee of 85; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before 2025/11/01 (Park Scholarship nomination and most university merit priority). That's North Carolina State University at Raleigh's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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