North Carolina State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

North Carolina State University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 45%. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, NC State offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and ranks consistently among the top North Carolina colleges and top Southeast colleges.

Considering applying to North Carolina State University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, North Carolina State University had an acceptance rate of 45%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 45 students were admitted, making NC State's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

NC State requires that all students submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 55% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

The admissions data tells us that most of NC State's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to NC State scored between 620 and 690, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 690. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 630 and 730, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored above 730. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1420 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at North Carolina State.

Requirements

North Carolina State does not require the SAT writing section. Note that NC State participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject tests are not required for admission to North Carolina State University.

ACT Scores and Requirements

North Carolina State requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 45% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of NC State's admitted students fall within the top 15% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to NC State received a composite ACT score between 27 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 27.

Requirements

NC State does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, North Carolina State superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of North Carolina State University's incoming class had unweighted high school GPAs between 3.69 and 3.96. 25% of had a GPA above 3.96, and 25% had a GPA below 3.69. These results suggest that most successful applicants to NC State University have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to North Carolina State University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

North Carolina State University, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. Most successful applicants have strong grades and SAT/ACT scores. In addition to grades and test scores, NC State takes into consideration the rigor of your high school courses, the strength of your application essays, and your commitment to extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and community service. And, since NC State is an NCAA Division I university, excellence in athletics can play a role in the admissions process.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most successful applicants had "B+" or higher averages, SAT scores of about 1150 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 24 or above. Higher numbers improve your chances of acceptance, and you can see that the great majority of applicants with "A" averages and high test scores were admitted.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and North Carolina State University Undergraduate Admissions Office.