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.

15:1
Student to faculty ratio
35
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 15:1. 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
342
10-19
718
20-29
986
30-39
360
40-49
258
50-99
432
100+
222

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
Computer Science
Psychology, General
Mechanical Engineering
164.8
315.04
465.28
615.52
765.76
916

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Animal Sciences, General 201
  • Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 111
  • Horticultural Science 38
  • Agronomy and Crop Science 24
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 17
  • Agriculture, General 17
  • Agriculture, General 17
  • Poultry Science 17
  • Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 16
  • Agricultural Mechanization, General 14
  • Food Science 11
  • Turf and Turfgrass Management 2
Architecture And Related Services
  • Environmental Design/Architecture 39
  • Architecture 33
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 435
  • Zoology/Animal Biology 58
  • Biochemistry 53
  • Microbiology, General 40
  • Genetics, General 30
  • Botany/Plant Biology 28
Business
  • Business Administration and Management, General 916
  • Accounting 145
  • Business/Managerial Economics 96
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 201
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 373
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 48
  • Education, General 30
  • Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education 15
  • Agricultural Teacher Education 15
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 13
  • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education 11
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 10
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 290
  • Textile Sciences and Engineering 186
  • Chemical Engineering 170
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 165
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 161
  • Computer Engineering, General 151
  • Civil Engineering, General 115
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General 101
  • Industrial Engineering 92
  • Engineering, General 35
  • Agricultural Engineering 32
  • Nuclear Engineering 31
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 25
  • Materials Engineering 25
  • Construction Engineering 19
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician 16
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 104
Foreign Languages
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 47
History
  • History, General 68
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 16
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 13
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Statistics, General 76
  • Mathematics, General 46
  • Applied Mathematics, General 25
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Nutrition Sciences 102
  • Science, Technology and Society 48
  • International/Globalization Studies 45
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 79
  • Natural Resources/Conservation, General 70
  • Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician 64
  • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General 27
  • Forest Management/Forest Resources Management 22
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 115
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General 34
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 18
  • Religion/Religious Studies 7
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 50
  • Physics, General 21
  • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General 18
  • Oceanography, Chemical and Physical 18
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 15
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 342
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 64
Science Technologies/Technicians
  • Science Technologies/Technicians, Other 9
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 156
  • Criminology 86
  • Sociology, General 62
  • Anthropology, General 30
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 28
  • Industrial and Product Design 22
  • Design and Visual Communications, General 21
  • Fine and Studio Arts Management 19
  • Graphic Design 19
  • Music Technology 0
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