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Colleges / North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC 4-Year Public
Acceptance Rate47%
Acceptance Rate47%

NC State Admissions

If you want to apply to NC State, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is January 15 and the application fee costs $85.

Students who apply to NC State for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than March 30.

NC State Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of NC State's admissions stats.

NC State 2022 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.8
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 47.4%
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 21%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 35%
Waitlist Yes

North Carolina State University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for North Carolina State University.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I No –– ––
Early Decision II –– –– ––
Early Action Yes November 1 January 30
Regular Decision Yes January 15 March 30

Want to Apply Early to NC State?


NC State does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. NC State will release EA admissions decisions no later than January 30.

NC State accepts around 53% of early action applicants and 47% all applicants for all deadlines. In 2021, NC State admitted 12,14 of the 22,868 who applied early action.

➡️ Find a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on North Carolina State University Admissions


Transferring to North Carolina State University

It is very difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to NC State

In 2022, NC State waitlisted 7,289 students and 2,340 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 25 eventually got off the waitlist.

What Does NC State Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at NC State

What does NC State consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Academic GPA Very Important
Class Rank Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Application Essay Important
Standardized Test Scores Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Character/Personal Qualities Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Work Experience Considered
Extracurricular Activities Considered
First Generation Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Recommendation(s) Considered
State Residency Considered
Talent/Ability Considered
Volunteer Work Considered

Make sure to check with NC State for more information on admission factors.

NC State 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to NC State, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with NC State's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Other Requirements Students applying for studio-based majors must provide a portfolio. Students applying for Professional Golf Management must provide a copy of their GHIN/Handicap scores from their local golf facility and a letter of recommendation from their golf coach or a PGA Professional.
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into NC State?

Students admitted to NC State have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.

Out of all students that were admitted, 77.3% submitted a class rank. At NC State 47.4% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 85% were in the top 25% and 98.4% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At North Carolina State University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 19.7%
3.75 and 3.99 55.6%
3.50 and 3.74 19.7%
3.25 and 3.49 4%
3.00 and 3.24 0.6%
2.50 and 2.9 0.3%
2.00 and 2.49 0.1%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to NC State directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

NC State looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

NC State is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 21% of NC State's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 35% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for NC State?

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of NC State students scored 740 or higher and 75% of students scored 630 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of NC State students scored 700 or higher, and 75% scored a 630 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for NC State?

To be most competitive at NC State, you should strive to earn between 27 and 32 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 32 means you fall in the 75th percentile for NC State's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 32, and three out of four students scored lower than 32 on the ACT.

A 27 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for NC State students. Only one out of every four students scored below 27.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to North Carolina State University

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to NC State.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is February 15. Applicants should hear back by April 15.

Transfer students can enroll in NC State during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term


NC State Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to NC State?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to NC State.

Does NC State accept transfer credits?

✅ NC State accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. NC State accepts:

• CLEP subject tests

Does NC State accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ NC State accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to NC State?

❌ No, NC State is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is NC State's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for NC State is 47%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at NC State?

❌ NC State does not offer early decision.

What is the early action acceptance rate at NC State?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at NC State was 53% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About NC State?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Join the conversation about about NC State in the College Confidential forums

Explore other colleges in North Carolina or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

NC State Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Very Selective

47%

How hard is it to get into NC State? NC State is a very selective institution. The NC State acceptance rate is 47%. This means that the institution accepts 47 out of every 100 applicants.

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NC State Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 15

Transfer Applications are Due

Feb 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to NC State is Jan 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to NC State is Feb 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

NC State ACT Scores

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ACT Range

27 - 32

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

32 and Above

Good

27 to 32

Avg

27 and Less

Low

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ACT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median ACT score of an admitted student to NC State is 30. Students with an ACT score of 32 and above have a good chance of getting into NC State. Students with an ACT score that falls between 27 and 32 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 27 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.

NC State SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

Not available

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Math SAT Range

640 - 740

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Reading SAT Range

630 - 700

NC State GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.83

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At NC State, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.83. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

36,831

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

47%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$9,128

Out-of-State

$30,869

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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