NC State vs UC Davis
North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of California-Davis, both highly regarded public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. NC State boasts a higher acceptance rate (50%) compared to UC Davis's (41%), making it slightly easier to gain admission. While NC State excels in engineering, computer science, and agriculture, UC Davis shines in biological sciences, agricultural sciences, and veterinary medicine. NC State's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students, while UC Davis has a larger undergraduate population. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with NC State at 84% and UC Davis at 82%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() North Carolina State University at Raleigh |
![]() University of California-Davis |
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Overview |
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Location | Raleigh, North Carolina | Davis, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.5% | 48.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | 1270 - 1440 | N/A |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 21.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 32,998 | 87,120 |
Total number of admissions given out | 15,669 | 42,475 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,046 | 7,482 |
Yield rate | 32.2% | 17.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$24,986
Out of state:
$45,771
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In state:
$32,584
Out of state:
$62,338
|
Average net price | $14,328 | $16,640 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,535
Out of state:
$27,320
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In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,768
Meal plan:
$4,833
|
$17,018 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
62.0%
Average amount $9,318 |
59.0%
Average amount $17,628 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
40.0%
Average amount $5,022 |
23.0%
Average amount $4,043 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $14,600 |
11.0%
Average amount $3,360 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
26,505
Men 50.9% Women 49.1% |
31,657
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
Graduate students |
10,326
Men 49.8% Women 50.2% |
8,393
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 12.9% | 7.5% |
International students | 9.5% | 17.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 10,024 | 11,142 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina Virginia New York New Jersey Maryland | California Washington Illinois Texas Hawaii |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 21:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 84.4% | 86.9% |
Dropout rate | 5.0% | 11.8% |
Transferred out | 9.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Software and Media Applications (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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