In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at NC State
NC State charges $8,799 a year in published tuition and fees for North Carolina residents, about $4,400 a semester, and $32,847 a year for students from other states, about $16,424 a semester, a difference of $24,048. About 14% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes NC State different
- Business and engineering. Business administration is by far its largest major, alongside computer science and mechanical engineering.
- Land-grant strengths. Agriculture, animal science and the College of Veterinary Medicine are central.
- Centennial Campus. Companies and research labs share space with classrooms.
What NC State students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): business administration (916), biology (435), computer science (373), psychology (342), mechanical engineering (290) and animal science (201). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at NC State if…
- You're interested in engineering, business, computing or animal science.
- You want a big university in a growing city.
- You'd like to work alongside companies while in school.
Worth asking about
- How do students enter engineering majors?
- What internships come through Centennial Campus partners?
How NC State compares with the other ACC schools
NC State is one of the ACC's largest universities, with strengths in engineering and agriculture. See how the 18 ACC schools differ.
FAQ
What is NC State's acceptance rate? 39.5% for fall 2025: 19,510 of 49,350 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 41.7%.
What is NC State's out-of-state acceptance rate? 34.4% for fall 2025, compared with 46.2% for North Carolina residents. NC State admitted 7,508 of 21,852 out-of-state applicants and 11,157 of 24,141 North Carolina residents, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,847 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is NC State known for? Engineering, business, agriculture and veterinary medicine.
How much does NC State cost? Published tuition and fees are $8,799 a year in-state and $32,847 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is NC State tuition per semester? About $4,400 a semester for North Carolina residents and $16,424 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $8,799 and $32,847 before aid.
Is NC State an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, North Carolina State University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to NC State? About 27,400 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Wondering if engineering fits you?
Lens's Major Ideas suggest which areas may suit your interests and strengths. Start with Lens →