North Carolina State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

North Carolina State University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 45%. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, NC State offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and ranks consistently among the top North Carolina colleges and top Southeast colleges.

Considering applying to North Carolina State University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why North Carolina State University?

• Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
• Campus Features: The main campus of NC State is defined by its attractive red-brick buildings and the 115-foot bell tower. Located in North Carolina's "Research Triangle," the campus is a hub for science, technology, and innovation.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1
• Athletics: The NC State Wolfpack competes in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference for most sports.
• Highlights: The largest university in North Carolina, NC State has many strengths in science and technology fields, and was also awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, North Carolina State University had an acceptance rate of 45%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 45 students were admitted, making NC State's admissions process competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to North Carolina State University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

North Carolina State University, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. Most successful applicants have strong grades and SAT/ACT scores. In addition to grades and test scores, NC State takes into consideration the rigor of your high school courses, the strength of your application essays, and your commitment to extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and community service. And, since NC State is an NCAA Division I university, excellence in athletics can play a role in the admissions process.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most successful applicants had "B+" or higher averages, SAT scores of about 1150 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 24 or above. Higher numbers improve your chances of acceptance, and you can see that the great majority of applicants with "A" averages and high test scores were admitted.