NC State vs. Penn State

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NC State Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NC State No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • NC State Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NC State No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • NC State No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

NC State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Penn State ($15,522 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 1% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,332 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 134.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $11,845 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.2% higher at Penn State than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $8,943 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at Penn State Main Campus (51% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($11,675 vs. $11,336).

NC State vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NC State or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and NC State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 60 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming NC State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

NC State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $6,036 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,782 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($214 vs. $277).
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.