UMass vs. NC State

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

UMass vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($15,522 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 14.2% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($14,332 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 102% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $8,973 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.1% higher at UMass than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $7,602 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (81% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 12.3% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($13,110 vs. $11,675).

UMass vs. NC State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 20 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming UMass 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: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 31.8% at NC State.

UMass vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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).

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $3,218 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($20,782 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($214 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.