A Tradition of Transformation

As we have done for 125 years, NC State continues to transform lives on campus, in North Carolina, across our nation, and throughout the world every day. With nearly 35,000 students, NC State educates more North Carolinians than any other university in the state. NC State is a comprehensive public research university globally recognized for leadership in developing new knowledge, educating the next generation for the use of that knowledge, and applying that knowledge for the benefit of society.

For more NC State facts, visit NC State At-A-Glance. Printer-Friendly Version »

Academic Excellence

At the core of NC State’s success is its focus on academic excellence. The quality of NC State’s students, faculty and staff is exceptional, making the university a national leader in teaching, research and outreach that makes a difference.

  • Our graduates leave ready to succeed in the workforce – the Wall Street Journal names NC State graduates in the top 20 most desired by recruiters
  • 21 faculty are members of the prestigious National Academies
  • Third-ranked veterinary school
  • 100+ student national scholars and fellows over the last five years, including four Goldwater Scholars, two Udall Scholars and 20 National Science Foundation graduate research fellows in the last year

A Recognized Leader in Higher Education

NC State is one of the nation’s leading universities, recognized for the strength of its scholarship, research and service. Some examples include:

  • Top-tier U.S. News & World Report University
  • 5th nationally in graduate nuclear engineering
  • 7th in online graduate degree programs in engineering
  • 8th in industry support among all U.S. universities without a medical school
  • 9th in online graduate degree programs in computer information technology
  • 10 graduate programs among the top 30 nationally
  • 10th nationally in undergraduate industrial engineering
  • A U.S. News & World Report top-20 “up-and-comer,” recognizing the university's momentum, success and higher national profile
  • 6th in graduate biological and agricultural engineering

A Great Value

The value of an NC State education sets us apart from other universities. We are consistently recognized as a best value for our combination of outstanding academic quality and affordability.

  • A U.S. News & World Report top-five best value among public universities
  • Among only a handful of U.S. Colleges – and the only one in North Carolina – to be named a Top Value by Fox Business
  • Regularly named by Princeton Review/USA Today and Kiplinger Magazine as a national top-20 best value university
  • Because of our value, NC State students graduate with lower-than-average debt. U.S. News recently ranked us among the top national universities with the lowest debt load for its students upon graduation

A Powerhouse for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact

As a major public research university, NC State has the expertise to advance practical knowledge, transfer technology to the private sector and find solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Our high level of research support attracts top faculty and creates meaningful learning opportunities for students. That support also attracts industry partners and results in tremendous economic benefit for North Carolina.

  • In 2011, we expended $380 million in research activities, placing NC State among the most productive research universities
  • The only university in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers, and one of only three universities to ever house three ERCs
  • Generate $1.7 billion statewide in direct annual economic impact
  • More than 800 U.S. Patents, and more than 1,500 worldwide, yielding more than 250 consumer products
  • In the top 15 nationally with more than 800 license agreements with industry partners
  • 100+ spin-off companies — 10 in the last year alone — creating thousands of new jobs in North Carolina and across the nation
  • Venture capital topping $1.5 billion
  • Home to Centennial Campus, a national model for successful public-private research parks
  • Extension offices in all 100 counties and on the Cherokee Reservation taking discovery, economic and quality of life benefits to all areas of the state

Winning in Competition and in the Classroom

NC State is experiencing a transformation of its athletics program, achieving new levels of success in competition and in the classroom.

  • Men’s basketball finished the 2011-2012 season with a top-20 ranking and a Sweet 16 berth
  • Baseball competed in the NCAA Super Regional
  • Six teams finished the 2011-2012 season ranked in the national top 25: men’s cross-country, baseball, gymnastics, men’s basketball, women’s cross-country and women's golf
  • NC State Athletics now ranks 37th in the national Director’s Cup competitive standings -- up 52 spots from in 2010
  • A record 381 student-athletes were named NC State scholar athletes; 186 student-athletes were NC State Dean’s List honorees
  • A record 10 student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans
  • A record 69 student-athletes were named to conference all-academic teams
  • Three NC State student-athletes were awarded ACC post-graduate scholarships – the highest number of honorees among all ACC schools

Amazing Alumni

Alumni may leave NC State, but NC State never leaves them. They carry NC State’s mission of education, research and outreach to every field of inquiry and every corner of the globe.

  • More than 195,000 living alumni; 120,000 in North Carolina
  • Alumni account for $5.6 billion of income in North Carolina annually (2008)
  • 64 NC State graduates have gone on to become generals and flag officers
  • Our transformational alumni include a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaders in business, technology, politics, education and a range of other fields

Recent Accolades & Achievements

  • From the largest applicant pool in university history, NC State welcomed its most academically strong freshman class ever, with average SAT scores over 1,200 and weighted GPAs over 4.3, the second highest GPAs reported on Princeton Review’s Best Values list
  • Completed the best fundraising year in university history, raising more than $111 million, followed by a $10 million gift naming the Prestage Family Department of Poultry Science 
  • Announced a new, $18 million NSF Engineering Research Center that will make self-powered health monitoring devices
  • Entered into a six-year, $10 million agreement with Eastman Chemical Company to conduct cutting-edge research in chemistry, materials science and other scientific disciplines
  • Environmental engineering graduate student Tate Rogers was awarded a water and sanitation grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve sanitation in developing countries
  • B. Jayant Baliga, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, received the 2012 North Carolina Award for Science, the state’s highest civilian honor, and the 2011 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation's highest honor for technological achievement
  • Michael Escuti, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, received a 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
  • James Guy, professor of poultry health management, named the first recipient of the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award from the USPOULTRY Foundation
  • Laura Taylor, professor of agricultural and resource economics, was one of just 20 environmental researchers awarded a Leopold Leadership Fellowship for 2013
  • Bryce Lane, instructor in the Department of Horticultural Science, won a 2013 Nashville/MidSouth Emmy Award for instructional programming
  • Mike Walden, professor of agricultural and resource economics, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for service to the state of North Carolina
  • Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Entomology, received the 2012 O. Max Gardner Award, the most significant honor given to faculty by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors
  • Recipient of the 2013 U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Award
  • Jenkins MBA students J.J. Eve, Patrick Ferguson, Eddie Jones and Caroline Chamblee Lewis took first place in the 2013 Lenovo and Microsoft Case Study Competition

For more NC State facts and figures, download At-A-Glance fact sheet [PDF].

Updated April 30, 2013.