CU-Boulder vs NC State

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado Boulder, and North Carolina State University at Raleigh, a vibrant hub of innovation in the Research Triangle, stand as two prominent beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they also possess unique characteristics that set them apart. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover the nuances that distinguish these esteemed universities, from their acceptance rates and popular majors to student body demographics and graduation rates. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, embarking on a journey towards a fulfilling and transformative educational experience.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh logo

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

Overview

Location Raleigh, North Carolina Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 87.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 47.5% 79.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1270 - 1440 1170 - 1390
ACT range 27 - 32 25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 21.0% 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 34.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 32,998 54,756
Total number of admissions given out 15,669 43,576
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,046 6,785
Yield rate 32.2% 15.6%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,986

Out of state: $45,771
In state: $29,725

Out of state: $55,543
Average net price $14,328 $22,532
Tuition
In state: $6,535

Out of state: $27,320
In state: $10,728

Out of state: $36,546
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,768

Meal plan: $4,833
$15,220
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

62.0%
Average amount $9,318
53.0%
Average amount $9,214
Students receiving federal student loan 40.0%
Average amount $5,022
27.0%
Average amount $4,986
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $14,600
6.0%
Average amount $24,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 26,505
Men 50.9% Women 49.1%
30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
Graduate students 10,326
Men 49.8% Women 50.2%
8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 12.9% 48.8%
International students 9.5% 7.1%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 10,024 7,500
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 Colorado California Texas Illinois New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 84.4% 74.0%
Dropout rate 5.0% 8.6%
Transferred out 9.6% 15.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Software and Media Applications (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,745
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $122,470
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,886
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $113,307
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,892
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $92,582
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,869
  • Year 2: $74,200
  • Year 3: $88,476
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,974
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $88,260
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,860
  • Year 2: $81,702
  • Year 3: $86,459
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,857
  • Year 2: $70,710
  • Year 3: $83,417
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,627
  • Year 2: $70,057
  • Year 3: $83,342
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,222
  • Year 2: $69,757
  • Year 3: $81,552
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,081
  • Year 2: $70,253
  • Year 3: $80,463
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,752
  • Year 2: $116,679
  • Year 3: $121,033
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $118,373
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,907
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $108,458
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,254
  • Year 2: $89,641
  • Year 3: $97,860
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,200
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $92,272
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,191
  • Year 2: $80,503
  • Year 3: $87,258
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,023
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $86,676
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,804
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $85,563
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,633
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $85,039
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,440
  • Year 2: $71,957
  • Year 3: $83,132

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The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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