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NC State University at a glance

On their way to morning class, students head across the Court of the Carolinas and past the 1911 Building.

Curious about the average class size at NC State? Or how many students are from out of state? Perhaps you want to know how many professors hold PhDs. On this page, find quick facts and stats about many aspects of attending NC State University.

NC State University at a Glance

Students

  • Largest four-year institution in North Carolina
  • Largest number of applications from N.C. students
  • 32,782 students from all NC counties and nearly 100 foreign countries (22,839 undergraduates; 7,011 graduates and professional, 2,791 non-degree seeking)
  • 4,571 undergraduate and 1,909 graduate degrees awarded in 2007-08
  • Bachelor's degrees in 115 fields; master's in 169 fields; Ph.Ds in 62 fields; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • 100+ national scholars and fellows in past five years

Faculty & Staff

  • 2,103 teaching, research and extension faculty; 316 field faculty
  • 17 members of the National Academies
  • 7th among 16 peers in NSF CAREER faculty awards over last four years
  • 6,024 administrative and support staff

Rankings

  • 4th in Best Overall Public University Value among public universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2008)
  • 5th among public colleges of veterinary medicine (U.S. News & World Report, 2006)
  • 6th best value among the nation’s public colleges and universities (Princeton Review, 2009)
  • 18th best value among the nation’s colleges and universities (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, 2008)
  • 19 graduate programs among top 30 public universities
  • 1st in Engineering Doctorates awarded among official 16 peers
  • 11th among American Public Research Universities
  • Among the 25 “Most Connected Campuses” in the nation (Princeton Review, 2006)
  • 18th among public university research libraries in North America

Extension, Engagement and Economic Development

  • $1 in state funding for NC State generates nearly $8 in total income for N.C.
  • 1,200 employees stationed in all 100 counties and the Cherokee Reservation
  • 13 off-campus regional research and extension centers, 9 field laboratories, and 15 shared research stations

Financials and Private Support

  • Total budget: $1.1 billion (46% from state appropriations and 15% from tuition)
  • Total endowment: $535 million for fiscal year 2007
  • Achieve! capital campaign reached its $1 billion goal 19 months early, and raised a total of $1.3 billion

Research

  • $330.9 million in research expenditures
  • 4th in Industry Research Funding among research universities without medical schools (National Science Foundation 2008)
  • More than 70% of faculty engaged in sponsored research
  • More than 2,500 graduate students supported on research and teaching appointments
  • 68 established research and service centers

Technology Transfer

  • 3rd in Patent Pipeline Power of all Universities in Life Sciences (The Scientist, June 2005)
  • 634 U.S. patents with 130 patents pending  
  • 70 spin-off companies
  • 9th among U.S. universities in patent production, quality and strength (IEEE Spectrum, Nov. 2006)

Colleges 

Centennial Campus

  • National model for government, business and university partnerships
  • Includes 1,120-acre Centennial Campus and the 214-acre Centennial Biomedical Campus
  • Houses Colleges of Textiles, Engineering and Veterinary Medicine
  • Technology Incubator helps entrepreneurs commercialize products and processes
  • More than 100 integrated corporate and government research partners, including 25 incubator companies, and 2,950 employees
  • 600-student Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School, as well as the William and Ida Friday Institute for Education Innovation, located on campus

Athletics

  • NCAA Division I University
  • Member of Atlantic Coast Conference
  • 23 sports represented at NC State

Alumni

  • More than 162,000 living NC State alumni
  • 95,373 alumni living in North Carolina
  • Graduates pump $2.9 billion into N.C. economy annually