North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
North Carolina State University at Raleigh at a Glance
North Carolina State University is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 by the North Carolina General Assembly as an agricultural and mechanical college, it is the largest university in the Carolinas and a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system.
1887
139 years old
$4M
$3.5 million
39,259
300 undergrad · 9,347 grad
2,464
2,110 acres
Identity
How to Apply to North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Official admissions pageJanuary 15
November 1 (Early Action)
$85
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh Worth It?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $17,303/year net price and $68,758 median earnings, graduates earn 4.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 85% graduation rate means roughly 15% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: North Carolina State University at Raleigh delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How North Carolina State University at Raleigh compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #10 of 17 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #2 | University of California-Davis | 100 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| #3 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #4 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 100 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| #6 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 100 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
| #10 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 84 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of North Carolina State University at Raleigh's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
The highest-earning program at North Carolina State University at Raleigh is Computer Science at $69,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Zoology/Animal Biology at $19,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earns $69,800, while a Zoology/Animal Biology graduate earns $19,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $20,500 in median debt vs. $22,500 for Zoology/Animal Biology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,303/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $69,800 | $69,800 | $20,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $69,400 | $69,400 | $21,268 |
| Chemical Engineering | $69,200 | $69,200 | $22,125 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $69,100 | $69,100 | $21,246 |
| Industrial Engineering | $68,500 | $68,500 | $22,950 |
| Forestry | $65,300 | $65,300 | $23,190 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,800 | $63,800 | $20,087 |
| Civil Engineering | $57,800 | $57,800 | $24,089 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $56,400 | $56,400 | $24,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $54,000 | $54,000 | $29,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,400 | $48,400 | $19,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $45,700 | $45,700 | $20,533 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $44,100 | $44,100 | $26,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $43,100 | $43,100 | $20,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $42,600 | $42,600 | $18,103 |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | $42,400 | $42,400 | $22,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,100 | $40,100 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,000 | $39,000 | $21,475 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,700 | $38,700 | $24,355 |
| Criminology | $37,200 | $37,200 | $22,382 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $36,000 | $36,000 | $23,081 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,200 | $34,200 | $20,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $33,800 | $33,800 | $21,104 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $32,200 | $32,200 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,400 | $31,400 | $19,500 |
| Social Work | $31,100 | $31,100 | $22,637 |
| Biology, General | $31,000 | $31,000 | $22,553 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $30,800 | $30,800 | $20,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $26,900 | $26,900 | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $26,200 | $26,200 | $21,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $25,800 | $25,800 | $21,375 |
| Psychology, General | $23,000 | $23,000 | $19,055 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $19,100 | $19,100 | $22,500 |
Similar Colleges in NC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
- Student Body
- 27,371 students
- Admission Rate
- 42%
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,303
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $68,758
- Median Student Debt
- $20,121