National university
#11 Best colleges for social work in AmericaNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid About $17,000 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,121 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#13 of 1,046
- Best colleges for social work in America#11 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#22 of 950
- Best colleges for accounting in America#32 of 1,132
- Best colleges for business in America#64 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#58 of 1,238
Show 26 more
- Best colleges for education in America#63 of 1,318
- Best colleges in America#109 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#92 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#98 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#94 of 1,358
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#132 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#94 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#97 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#94 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#97 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#97 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#97 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#93 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#67 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#72 of 749
- Best large colleges in America#26 of 256
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#79 of 681
- Best value colleges in America#80 of 674
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#91 of 693
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#54 of 367
- Best value colleges in the South in America#23 of 153
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#109 of 690
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#118 of 682
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in America#35 of 197
- Most selective colleges in America#134 of 683
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#128 of 598
In North Carolina
- Best colleges for criminal justice in North Carolina#1 of 39
- Best colleges for social work in North Carolina#1 of 24
- Best colleges for accounting in North Carolina#2 of 34
- Best colleges for business in North Carolina#3 of 49
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in North Carolina#3 of 42
- Best colleges in North Carolina#5 of 55
Show 22 more
- Best test-optional colleges in North Carolina#5 of 54
- Best colleges for psychology in North Carolina#5 of 51
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in North Carolina#5 of 50
- Best colleges for education in North Carolina#5 of 47
- Best colleges for English in North Carolina#5 of 47
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina#6 of 55
- Best colleges for history in North Carolina#5 of 45
- Best colleges for mathematics in North Carolina#5 of 45
- Best colleges for music in North Carolina#5 of 44
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina#5 of 42
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in North Carolina#5 of 42
- Best colleges for chemistry in North Carolina#5 of 41
- Best colleges for art and design in North Carolina#5 of 39
- Best value colleges in North Carolina#3 of 16
- Best value colleges in the South in North Carolina#3 of 16
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in North Carolina#3 of 16
- Best colleges for computer science in North Carolina#5 of 24
- Best large colleges in North Carolina#2 of 9
- Best colleges for engineering in North Carolina#4 of 17
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in North Carolina#5 of 19
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in North Carolina#4 of 15
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in North Carolina#3 of 9
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.85%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,376 · ACT 30
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$18,060
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average paid by families who received aid, by income. Families who get no aid pay the full cost of attendance: $26,425 a year.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 27,323 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 50% · Women 50% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 19% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 13% |
| Total students | 37,323 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | About $17,000 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $26,425 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,121 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 85% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 77% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 76% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 75% |
| First-year retention | 94% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $68,758 |
| Admission rate | 42% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $85 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,596 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 20% |
| Average SAT | 1376 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 650–720 |
| SAT math | 650–750 |
| ACT composite | 28–32 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Excellent · Top 11% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Nuclear Engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Engineering (general) | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Construction Engineering | |
| Mathematics | |
| Materials Engineering | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | |
| Other science technologies/technicians | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Forestry | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Statistics | |
| Agricultural Engineering | |
| Business administration | |
| Accounting | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Chemistry | |
| Architecture | |
| Nutrition Sciences | |
| Global studies | |
| Food Science and Technology | |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Environmental Design | |
| Agricultural business | |
| Science, Technology and Society | |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | |
| Political science | |
| Communication studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Biology | |
| Design | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Botany/Plant Biology | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Agricultural Mechanization | |
| Linguistics | |
| Philosophy | |
| Secondary education | |
| Genetics | |
| Criminology | |
| Fine arts | |
| Agriculture | |
| Animal Sciences | |
| Social work | |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | |
| Sociology | |
| Plant Sciences | |
| Physics | |
| History | |
| Teacher education | |
| English | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Anthropology | |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | |
| Arts management |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Agricultural Production Operations, Agricultural Public Services, Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services, Applied mathematics, Area studies, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Education (general), Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Ethnic and gender studies, Music, Religious studies, Romance languages, Soil Sciences.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Business | |
| Biology | |
| Agriculture | |
| Computer and information sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 6% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 5% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $14,332 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 15 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 6%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 88%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $59,785IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 38% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)About 9 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Town population | 481,031Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | RaleighAbout 4 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 42°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Raleigh State University, NC |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Questions families ask
- What is North Carolina State University at Raleigh’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 7% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does North Carolina State University at Raleigh cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is about $17,000 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh admitted 42% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do North Carolina State University at Raleigh’s graduates do?
- 85% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $68,758; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,121.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 199193
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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