North Carolina State University is a high-profile public research university in Raleigh, North Carolina in the Research Triangle metropolitan region. It is a large university with 26,254 undergraduates enrolled. Admissions are moderately competitive, with the North Carolina State University acceptance rate at approximately 39.8%. Majors are Engineering, Business, Biology, Computer Science, and Agriculture. Six-year graduation rate is 82%, and the median beginning salary of North Carolina State University graduates is about INR 63,80,000 (median earnings of ten years after graduation, converted from $77,200).
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a distinguished public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and also in the Research Triangle metropolitan area. It is a large university with 20,153 undergraduate students. Admissions are highly competitive, as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill acceptance rate is approximately 19%. Major fields of study are Biology, Business, Communications, Psychology, and Computer Science. Six-year graduation rate is 91%, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates continue to have a median starting salary of around INR 67,18,000 (converted from $81,200 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| North Carolina State University | University of North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.2 Out of 10 | 6.2 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 272 QS World University 2026 # 209 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 251 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 140 QS World University 2026 # 40 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 70 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 27 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 189 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 | # 126 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 54 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 18 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -84 PG Programs -72 | UG Programs -67 PG Programs -73 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 39.8 % | 19.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-110 IELTS-6.5 PTE-62 SAT-1230 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-7 SAT-1270 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 37410 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 24735 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 37333 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 36972 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 16650 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26516 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate employability rank (2020): 111-120. | The average salary for graduates is around $49,952. Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: PhD : $125,000 MBA: $120,000 Bachelor of Science: $90,000 Master (Other): $85,000 Bachelor of Arts: $73,000 Executive MBA: $61,000 |
| application requirements | SAT/ACT scores are required by all applicants, applications are accepted through both Common App and Coalition app. | Letter of Recommendation Program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 16 reviews | 8.1/10 Read 5 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 101 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 251 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 57 for Business by Bloomberg 2024 | # 28 for Business by US News 2025 # 75 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 124 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | GMAT - 700/800IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Nov 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Mar 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline for 2026 intake) | Mar 4, 2025 (Round 3 Application Deadline 2025 August Intake) Apr 29, 2025 (Round 4 Application Deadline 2025 August Intake) May 19, 2025 (Round 3 Deposit Deadline 2025 August Intake) Jun 9, 2025 (Round 4 Deposit Deadline 2025 August Intake) Oct 8, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline 2026 August Intake) Jan 7, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline 2026 August Intake) Feb 10, 2026 (Round 1 Deposit Deadline 2026 August Intake) Apr 21, 2026 (Round 2 Deposit Deadline 2026 August Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | North Carolina State University | University of North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1887 | 1795 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 |
| Male:Female | 55% Male, 45% Female | 43% Male, 57% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in North Carolina, the main campus has three sub-campuses. Some of the surrounding structure include Memorial Bell Tower, Court of North Carolina, and Free Expression Tunnel. | UNC-Chapel Hill's 729-acre campus is dominated by two central quads: Polk Place and McCorkle Place. The university's campus is informally divided into three regions, usually referred to as "north campus," "middle campus," and "south campus." |
| Library | The NC State Library system comprises of 5 libraries- D.H Hill Jr Library, Harrye B. Lyons Design Library, Natural, James B Hunt Jr Library, and William Rand Keenan Jr. Library of Veterinary Medicine. The university library has a consortium that holds a combined research collection of over 23 million forming the second-largest academic research collection in country. | University has five libraries at different locations. Library has following resources Book: 6,702,297 |
| Campus Life | There are 70 intramural & sports clubs, 9 varieties of foods (apart from the dining halls). Apart from this you can also indulge in arts, theatre, music dance. The university has its own museum, crafts center, There are around 700 student clubs and organizations catering to agriculture, health, science, music, food, and more is where you can find your calling. | The university provides the students an immersive experience as they can get involved in various campus activities like joining clubs and activities, attend workshops, join sports facilities etc. Students get the opportunity to explore various interests according to their choices. University provides various on campus facilities and also dining facilities. Health and mental counselling services are also available. Sports like basketball, rugby, swimming are played on campus. There are also various indoor facilities available for gymming and indoor sports. University is famous for its basketball team. |
| Hostel | #Rooms - $10084 #Rooms (Studio Room) - $12150 #Rooms (Double Room) - $9105 | #On campus - $11556 #Off campus (not with family) - $11556 #Off campus (with family) - $3404 |
| Famous Alumni | Rajendra Pachauri (chairman of intergovernmental pannel on climate change), Russel Wilson (football quarterback), John Edwards (former US Senator for North Carolina), Robert Gibbs (former White House press secretary), Thurl Bailey (basketball player), John Tesh (pianist), Lara Trump (TV producer), etc. Total Collections- 5.3+ million; 678 databases; 1,200,000 ebooks. | James K. Polk served as the 11th President of the United States William R. King was the thirteenth Vice President of the United States. Civil War historian and writer Shelby Foote, Jason Kilar, former CEO of Hulu ; Paul Kolton, chairman of the American Stock Exchange; |
| City Life | Raleigh, NC, offers a lot work opportunities in high-tech firms or start-ups offering jobs in technical, medical, and other careers. The variety of food and the delicacies offered is extraordinary and delicious. Apart from this, the city offers cheap accommodation, buzzing nightlife, mountains & beaches getaway, and more. The unemployment rate in May 2020 is 11.5%. | Offering its residents a great mixture of urban and suburban living, Chapel Hill is often regarded as a good place to live that has tons of delicious new restaurants, cozy coffee shops, and well-maintained public parks that everyone will love. As part of Research Triangle Park which is anchored by Chapel Hill and the neighboring cities of Raleigh and Durham, Chapel Hill has made a name for itself as a city of business and industry as more and more large companies, technology firms, government agencies, startups, and nonprofits move to the area. As a center of innovation and a gathering place for professionals, living in Chapel Hill provides its residents with a lifestyle that easily balances work and play while remaining close to the two large metropolitan areas of Raleigh and Durham. With a growing population of over 66,000 people, Chapel Hill is not only a great place to raise a family, but it has become a hotspot for college students, young professionals, and couples for its thriving nightlife scene and entertainment options. With a current cost of living that is 8% higher than the national average, the prices in Chapel Hill are up 1.5% from a year ago. Even though living in Chapel Hill is by no means the most expensive, the city happens to be 15.6% more expensive than living in Raleigh. With the largest price increases found in transportation, housing, and food, the cost of basic living expenses in Chapel Hill only seems to be on the rise. While a lot of people moving to Chapel Hill seem to be relocating from the northeast and the west coast in search of a cheaper area, Chapel Hill remains to be a great option even though the prices and cost of living are higher than what residents would prefer. |
| Weather |
North Carolina State University vs University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Topic Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is ranked #140 in QS and 70th in Times Higher Education with leading programs globally in Public Health, Medicine, Business, Law, and Social Sciences. North Carolina State University (NC State) is ranked #272 in QS and 251-300th in Times Higher Education leading in Engineering, Computer Science, Veterinary Medicine, Textiles, and Agriculture. UNC has stronger global overall recognition, whereas NC State is stronger in STEM and applied sciences.
General Information
UNC, established in 1789, is the oldest public university in the country, situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with approximately 31,000 students. It is the flagship of the UNC System and focuses on liberal arts, professional education, and research. NC State, established in 1887, is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has more than 36,000 students. As one of the members of the Research Triangle (UNC and Duke), NC State places great emphasis on STEM, technology, and applied research.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UNC is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19%, particularly competitive for non-resident students. Admission emphasizes solid academics, extracurricular leadership, and community activism. The acceptance rate for NC State is approximately 39.8%, with varying selectivity by program (Engineering and Computer Science are very competitive). UNC draws students who want to pursue liberal arts, pre-professional, and health sciences, whereas NC State attracts students who want STEM-oriented routes.
Research Impact & Facilities
They are both R1: Very High Research Activity universities. UNC has more than $1.2 billion in research expenditure every year, ranking it among the leading research universities in America, particularly in medicine, public health, and social sciences. NC State also focuses on STEM, engineering, and applied sciences, with large centers like Centennial Campus, where industry collaborations and innovation centers are hosted. UNC excels in health and policy-relevant research, while NC State excels in technology transfer and applied innovation.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are public universities that provide low in-state tuition. UNC's in-state costs around $9,500–$10,500, and out-of-state around $39,000–$41,000. NC State's in-state costs around $9,000–$9,500, and out-of-state around $31,000–$33,000. Both offer scholarships, grants, and financial need-based assistance, with UNC being particularly recognized for the Carolina Covenant program supporting low-income students. NC State tends to be more economical for non-residents.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UNC alums are exceptionally successful in law, medicine, business, public policy, and academia with a robust alumni network and its networking with state and national leadership. NC State alums thrive in engineering, technology, agriculture, and entrepreneurship with robust connections to research parks and STEM fields. UNC enjoys wider national reputation in professional schools, whereas NC State is a leader in STEM professions and industry collaborations.
