North Carolina State University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at North Carolina State University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

14:1
Student to faculty ratio
34
Average class size
68%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

NC State has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
305
10-19
823
20-29
924
30-39
334
40-49
267
50-99
399
100+
195

Honors Programs

North Carolina State University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on NC State's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at North Carolina State University:

93%
First-year retention rate
68%
4-year grad rate
85%
6-year grad rate

The average base annual salary of students who were employed within six months of graduation is $66,250. This is higher than the national average of $48,300.

$66,250
$48,300 (National Average)

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are North Carolina State University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Business Administration and Management, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Psychology, General
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
116.4
276.72
437.04
597.36
757.68
918

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Animal Sciences, General 205
  • Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 123
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 40
  • Agriculture, General 40
  • Agriculture, General 40
  • Horticultural Science 29
  • Agronomy and Crop Science 28
  • Poultry Science 28
  • Agricultural Mechanization, General 27
  • Food Science 17
  • Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 11
  • Turf and Turfgrass Management 6
  • Agricultural and Extension Education Services 2
Architecture And Related Services
  • Environmental Design/Architecture 32
  • Architecture 25
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 436
  • Biochemistry 59
  • Zoology/Animal Biology 50
  • Genetics, General 37
  • Microbiology, General 32
  • Botany/Plant Biology 28
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 918
  • Accounting 125
  • Business/Managerial Economics 108
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 197
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 287
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 59
  • Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education 27
  • Education, General 26
  • Agricultural Teacher Education 24
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 18
  • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education 14
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 5
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 250
  • Textile Sciences and Engineering 192
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 160
  • Civil Engineering, General 141
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 136
  • Chemical Engineering 131
  • Industrial Engineering 117
  • Computer Engineering, General 111
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General 77
  • Materials Engineering 39
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 39
  • Agricultural Engineering 34
  • Engineering, General 31
  • Nuclear Engineering 27
  • Construction Engineering 16
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician 15
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 82
Foreign Languages
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 64
History
  • History, General 58
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 13
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 12
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Statistics, General 80
  • Mathematics, General 40
  • Applied Mathematics, General 25
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Nutrition Sciences 89
  • Science, Technology and Society 44
  • International/Globalization Studies 41
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 78
  • Natural Resources/Conservation, General 55
  • Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician 52
  • Forest Management/Forest Resources Management 20
  • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General 16
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 115
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General 40
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 17
  • Religion/Religious Studies 3
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 41
  • Oceanography, Chemical and Physical 21
  • Physics, General 20
  • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General 14
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 13
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 296
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 46
Science Technologies/Technicians
  • Science Technologies/Technicians, Other 10
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 177
  • Criminology 67
  • Sociology, General 46
  • Anthropology, General 33
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Graphic Design 30
  • Fine and Studio Arts Management 29
  • Design and Visual Communications, General 28
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 24
  • Industrial and Product Design 19
  • Music Technology 0

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