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Raleigh, NC · Wilmington, NC
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | University of North Carolina Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,303/yr | $20,109/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $6,382/yr | $10,778/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,121 | $19,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,758/yr | $12,572/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,334/yr | $17,378/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,087/yr | $24,046/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,652/yr | $25,573/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $213/mo | $207/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,332/yr | $14,268/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,332/yr | $14,268/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $876/yr | $860/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,230/yr | $5,599/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $26,425/yr | $26,547/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,799/yr | $7,277/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $32,847/yr | $24,152/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 20% | 24% |
| Students taking federal loans | 33% | 36% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 42% | 64% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1300–1470 | 1230–1340 |
| SAT average | 1376 | 1287 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 28–32 | 24–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 26–34 · Math 26–32 | English 23–30 · Math 23–27 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 40,049 | 17,370 |
| Students accepted | 15,958 | 12,856 |
| Students who enrolled | 5,728 | 2,701 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 36% | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 21% | 7% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 28% | 16% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 85% | 71% |
| Freshmen who come back | 94% | 88% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $68,758/yr | $54,967/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $45,891–$99,809 | $37,279–$81,800 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 85% | 74% |
| White students graduating | 86% | 72% |
| Black students graduating | 76% | 67% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 78% | 68% |
| Asian students graduating | 88% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $57,623/yr | $46,972/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 75% |
| Graduate on time | 68% | 56% |
| Pell students who graduate | 79% | 64% |
| First-gen students who finish | 76% | 62% |
| Low-income students who finish | 72% | 58% |
| Students who transfer out | 9.5% | 22% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $65,113/yr | $51,021/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Engineering 24% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 9% | Health Professions 24% · Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Psychology 8% |
| Most popular program | Engineering — 24% of degrees | Health Professions — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 9% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Social Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Software and Media Applications — $115,689/yr | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other — $118,913/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 43% | 14% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 27,371 | 14,922 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 10,042 | 3,594 |
| Average professor pay | $12,820/mo | $10,074/mo |
| Full-time professors | 88% | 72% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $64,900 | $52,650 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1887 | 1947 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.3% | 1% |
| Men | 50% | 37% |
| Women | 50% | 63% |
| White students | 66% | 79% |
| Black students | 5.9% | 4.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| Asian students | 9.8% | 2% |
| Two or more races | 5.1% | 3.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 19% | 26% |
| Part-time students | 5.8% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 4.5% | 15% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $18,060/yr | $10,765/yr |
| Endowment | $2.2B | $162.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 10,291 | 5,173 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,996/yr | $8,008/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,723/yr | $4,597/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | Land-grant institution | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 542 | 359 |
| Athletic scholarships | $12.2M | $3.2M |
| Athletics budget | $129.0M | $26.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $135.8M | $26.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $3.4M | $291,976 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.