North Carolina State University

<h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4> <ul><li>Several graduate academic programs ranked among top 25 </li><li>Room and board cost is $901 lower than the national average </li><li>High number of academic programs </li><li>Student debt following graduation is $4,034 lower than the national average </li><li>Accepts AP and dual credits </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost (including all school and living expenses) is $2,784 higher than the national average for in-state students and $4,106 higher for out-of-state students </li><li>Acceptance rate is 10.8 percentage points lower than the national average </li><li>Student-faculty ratio is 18:1, which is higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis">Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>As an NCSU student, you'll be able to choose from more than 110 bachelor's degree programs, 110 master's degree programs and 60 doctoral programs. In 2013, the university was named a 'Best Southeastern' school by The Princeton Review and ranked #51 among top public schools by <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report.</i> The school was also ranked #40 for best value and #16 among up-and-coming schools. Additionally, <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report</i> ranked a number of NCSU's academic programs in the top 25, including its graduate programs in veterinary medicine (#3), nuclear engineering (#6), industrial/manufacturing engineering (#8), biological/agricultural engineering (#9), statistics (#12) and nonprofit management (#21). </p> <p>The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 89% of full-time and 55% of part-time students returned to the university after their first year. In 2011, NCSU accepted 53% of applicants, which is lower than the national average of 63.8%. The school's 4-year graduation rate was 41%, similar to the national average; 72% of students graduated within 6 years. You can expect a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1, slightly above the 16:1 national average. </p> <p>The total cost of attendance for 2012-2013 (including all tuition and living costs) was $20,644 for North Carolina residents, which was higher than the national average of $17,860 for public 4-year universities. Out-of-state students paid $33,809, compared to the national average of $30,911. Room and board costs started at $5,240 according to the school's website, although NCES reported its average room and board costs were $8,414 for 2012-13, below the national average of $9,315. The College Board reported that NCSU students graduated with an average of $22,626 in debt, lower than the national average of $26,660. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAidAtNCSU">Getting In &amp; Financial Aid at NCSU</h2> <p>The NCES reported that roughly 44% of accepted students chose to attend the university in 2010. To apply, you'll need to submit the school's application, your high school transcript and standardized test scores. Approximately 93% of students submitted SAT scores, while 24% sent in ACT scores in 2010. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 23 and 28 on the composite ACT and had a combined SAT score of 1600 to 1890. Test scores are due at the school by February 1. </p> <p>If you need assistance paying for school, you may be eligible for scholarships based on need, alumni affiliation, state residency or success in academics, athletics, leadership or ROTC. About 70% of first-year undergraduates received some type of financial aid in 2010-2011, according to the NCES, and 24% of all undergraduates had their full need met, College Board reported. If you're a graduate student, you may qualify for research assistantships or fellowships at the university. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> February 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Priority Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> March 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2013)</i> </td><td> $70***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2011)</i> </td><td> 53%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $20,644 for in-state, $33,809 for out-of-state students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Financial Aid Package (2011)</i> </td><td> $12,223****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2011)</i> </td><td> 24%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2011)</i> </td><td> $22,626***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 3.2%*</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtNCSU">Student Life at NCSU</h2> <p>According to 2011 figures from the NCES, 44% of students at the university were female, 89% were North Carolina residents and 1% came from foreign countries. The largest racial/ethnic groups were White (75%), Black/African-American (8%), Asian (5%) and Hispanic/Latino (4%). If you decide to live on campus, you'll be able to choose from a variety of residence halls and apartment complexes, as well as 12 academic special interest communities and 25 Greek houses. </p> <p>If you want to get involved outside of class, NCSU offers more than 400 student organizations, 52 Greek chapters and 50 club sports teams. You'll have access to 5 libraries, including ones for design and veterinary medicine. The university also has a number of academic resources, including electron microscopes, a stable isotope laboratory and more than 80,000 acres of forest and farmlands for teaching and research. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Large city*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2011)</i> </td><td> 25,176 undergraduates, 9,591 graduate students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i> </td><td> 56% to 44%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full-Time Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 88%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-State Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 89%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2010-2011)</i> </td><td> 89% for full-time and 55% for part-time students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 32%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 5**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> More than 400**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> Largest university in North Carolina**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Article Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **North Carolina State University, ***College Board, ****U.S. News &amp; World Report.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Campus Box 7103, Raleigh, NC 27695 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (919) 515-2434</li></ul>