NC State vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (51,044 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); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

NC State vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Wisconsin? 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 University of Wisconsin Madison than NC State ($14,235 vs. $15,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 1.5% lower than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($14,124 vs. $14,332).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 31.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $2,804 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.2% higher at Wisconsin than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $9,256 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at University of Wisconsin Madison (51% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 52% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($17,741 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NC State or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and NC State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 60 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at NC State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

NC State vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State and Wisconsin? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $1,468 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($20,782 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($214 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

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.