North Carolina State University

For Fall 2025, 49,351 first-year students applied to NC State, 19,514 were admitted and 5,906 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 39.5%.

Source: NC State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025

Source: NC State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. NC State's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major, although NC State admits you directly into a major.

Source: NC State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early action. NC State has no early decision plan. Its early action is nonbinding and not restrictive, and the Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted early, so it gives no early acceptance rate.

Source: NC State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

NC State admits you directly into a major: you pick a first and a second choice, ideally in two different colleges, and if you are not competitive for the first you are reviewed for the second. Some majors ask for more:

• Studio-based majors (Architecture; Media Arts, Design and Technology; Graphic & Experience Design; Industrial Design; Fashion and Textile Design). One deadline, November 1, with a portfolio due the same day (in wolfPAW; Fashion and Textile Design uses SlideRoom). Fall entry only; decisions come on a rolling basis by January 31. NC State encourages you to apply by mid-October to leave time for the portfolio.

  Source: NC State Admissions, Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Music Technology. Fall entry only. A portfolio of no more than five samples of your work (each video or audio sample up to 5 minutes) and an additional essay, both in wolfPAW. You can apply early action or regular decision.

  Source: NC State Admissions, Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• First-choice-only majors. Engineering majors, Applied Math, Mathematics, Physics and the studio-based majors can be chosen only as your first-choice major, not your second.

  Source: NC State Admissions, Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Source: NC State Admissions, Application Review (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

98 majors across 10 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in NC State's official Undergraduate Catalog, grouped by the college that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations, minors, certificates, two-year Agricultural Institute programs and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

The application opens August 1. Transcripts, test scores and other materials are due November 10 for early action and studio-based majors and February 1 for regular decision; you must meet both deadlines. North Carolina residents must confirm residency through the Residency Determination Service by November 10 to get a December decision. Early action applicants get priority consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Admitted students confirm by May 1.

Source: NC State Admissions, Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

NC State is test-optional for first-year applicants with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above: you say on the application whether you want SAT, ACT or CLT scores considered, and you are not disadvantaged if you do not. With a weighted GPA from 2.5 up to 2.8, a score is required: an ACT of 17 or higher or an SAT of 930 or higher. NC State superscores, and you self-report scores when you apply.

Source: NC State Admissions, Test Score Consideration in Admission Decisions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted, with scores due by February 1.

Source: NC State Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

Not announced yet. When we checked NC State's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: NC State Admissions, First-Year Applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at NC State, 2026-2027:

NC State's estimate for a full-time undergraduate living on campus, fall and spring. NC State lists tuition and fees as one figure.

Source: NC State Student Services Center, Undergraduate Student Estimated Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from NC State's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to North Carolina State University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Public40.7% admitted$9,812 average net price
• Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · Public42.4% admitted$22,253 average net price
• University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL · Public42.8% admitted$10,411 average net price
• William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · Public37% admitted$19,096 average net price
• University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MD · Public45% admitted$15,678 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.