Rutgers vs. NC State

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rutgers vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or NC 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 Rutgers ($15,522 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 8.8% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,332 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 103.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $9,130 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Rutgers than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $4,594 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (51% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 43.4% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($16,742 vs. $11,675).

Rutgers vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 20 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at NC State (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 31.8% at NC State.

Rutgers vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and NC 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $1,433 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($20,782 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($214 vs. $229).
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 68%)

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.