NC State University

NC State is doing everything possible to protect student services, financial aid and teaching, research and outreach activities.

In a challenging economic environment, NC State remains committed to delivering a quality, affordable education. Several publications (US News, Kiplinger’s, Princeton Review) have ranked NC State as a national “best value” in higher education, a ranking that combines academic quality and affordability. We will take steps to maintain that difficult balance, including holding the tuition increase for next year to less than three percent. It will still be possible at NC State to get a great education at a comparatively low cost.

Browse the FAQs to find out more about our budget reduction plans and the possible impact.

1. What is the current budget situation? NC State has submitted a proposed budget with a $53 million or 10 percent reduction in state funding, to the University of North Carolina General Administration for review
2. Will I be able to get financial aid at NC State?
   Our goal is to ensure that no student who can benefit from an NC State education be denied that opportunity due to finances. That remains our goal, especially in a bad economy. There are still many variables to be sorted out, but we believe we will be able to accommodate the increased demand for aid. The aid packages may include a higher level of loans than is typical of an NC State financial aid package.
3. If the amount of available aid is limited, can I afford to go to NC State?
   We believe that some level of aid will be available for all qualified students. In addition, several publications (US News, Kiplinger’s, Princeton Review) have ranked NC State as a national “best value” in higher education, a ranking that combines academic quality and affordability. Affordability and quality are particularly important in difficult budgetary times and we will take steps to maintain that difficult balance. It will still be possible to get a quality education at NC State at a comparatively affordable cost.
4. How much will tuition increase?
   Tuition at NC State could increase $200 because of a mandate from the General Assembly. All universities in the UNC system may be required to increase tuition by $200 or 8 percent, whichever is lower.
5. When will we know how much NC State’s budget will be reduced?
   Most reductions will not take place until we have a final state budget. That could be in mid- to late July.
6. Will there be more applications for enrollment?
   Freshman applications are at their highest level ever – more than 18,500 – for fall 2009. Transfer applications are 10 percent higher than last year.
7. Will enrollment be capped?
   At this time, NC State does not plan to lower its targets for freshman or transfer enrollment.
8. What effect will a bad budget have on graduation rates and students’ ability to complete their degrees in four years?
   NC State will do everything in its power to protect teaching and classroom activities by providing the class sections and instructors needed for students to make normal progress toward graduation. It is possible that budget cuts will hamper this effort.
9. What is the current average class size?
   35.
10. What is the current student-faculty ratio?
    16:1.
11. What is the university’s operating budget?
    The initial estimated operating budget for the 2009 fiscal year was $1.14 billion.
12. How is the university funded?
    The university’s funding comes from a variety of sources, and breaks down as follows:
    46 percent from state appropriations
    18 percent from contracts and grants
    15 percent from tuition and fees
    15 percent from auxiliaries
    4 percent from gifts and other sources
    2 percent from federal appropriations
13. How have economic issues affected endowed scholarships?
    A group of 180 endowments across the country, the BNY Mellon Endowment and Foundation Universe Median, reported a loss of 26.7 percent for the nine-month period that ended March 31. NC State’s endowment investments are down 25.8 percent for the same period. The reality is it could get worse. Endowments fund scholarships, fellowships, other program initiatives and professorships.
14. What happens to students who have been going to NC State on endowed scholarships?
    We are seeking ways to honor our commitment to students on continuing scholarships, despite the decline in our endowment investments brought on by weakness in the economy. The chancellor provided $780,000 to ensure continuing scholarship commitments to students would be met. In addition, many donors who established scholarship endowments have generously made new gifts to ensure our students would have scholarships next year.
15. What’s the total budget for endowed scholarships?
    Our endowments budget is about $12 million, or less than two percent of the university’s budget.