Raleigh, NC · Private University
Is NC State Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$68,758
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$8,895
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$31,767
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$127,068
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.16x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.8 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
84.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$20,121
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$16,931
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates earn $23,758 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranked by graduate earnings
199 graduates
97 graduates
95 graduates
66 graduates
97 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At North Carolina State University at Raleigh, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $98,925) and the lowest (Anthropology: $29,518) is $69,407/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $98,925 | 3.1x |
| Chemical Engineering | $94,710 | 3.0x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $92,574 | 2.9x |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,373 | 2.9x |
| Computer Engineering | $90,912 | 2.9x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $87,305 | 2.8x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $81,589 | 2.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $79,841 | 2.5x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $76,667 | 2.4x |
| Construction Engineering(1yr data) | $76,574 | 2.4x |
| Civil Engineering | $76,320 | 2.4x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $75,787 | 2.4x |
| Statistics | $75,555 | 2.4x |
| Nuclear Engineering(1yr data) | $74,540 | 2.4x |
| Materials Engineering(1yr data) | $74,058 | 2.3x |
| Science, Technology and Society | $73,515 | 2.3x |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other(1yr data) | $72,274 | 2.3x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $72,110 | 2.3x |
| Engineering, General(1yr data) | $71,769 | 2.3x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,576 | 2.2x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,742 | 2.2x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering(1yr data) | $67,251 | 2.1x |
| Forestry | $63,034 | 2.0x |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $62,693 | 2.0x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $61,801 | 1.9x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $60,608 | 1.9x |
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | $57,894 | 1.8x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $57,533 | 1.8x |
| Biology, General | $57,457 | 1.8x |
| Architecture(1yr data) | $57,034 | 1.8x |
| Criminology | $56,907 | 1.8x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $56,784 | 1.8x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $51,876 | 1.6x |
| Political Science and Government | $51,838 | 1.6x |
| Food Science and Technology(1yr data) | $50,631 | 1.6x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $49,401 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry(1yr data) | $47,071 | 1.5x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,004 | 1.5x |
| History | $46,314 | 1.5x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $45,730 | 1.4x |
| Plant Sciences | $45,554 | 1.4x |
| Psychology, General | $45,056 | 1.4x |
| International/Global Studies | $44,769 | 1.4x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $43,761 | 1.4x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $43,740 | 1.4x |
| Mathematics(1yr data) | $43,585 | 1.4x |
| Animal Sciences | $43,013 | 1.4x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,750 | 1.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $42,708 | 1.3x |
| Social Work | $42,436 | 1.3x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities(1yr data) | $41,661 | 1.3x |
| Agriculture, General(1yr data) | $41,084 | 1.3x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $39,680 | 1.3x |
| Sociology(1yr data) | $35,510 | 1.1x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services(1yr data) | $34,099 | 1.1x |
| Botany/Plant Biology(1yr data) | $33,009 | 1.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts(1yr data) | $30,577 | 1.0x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $29,778 | 0.9x |
| AnthropologyLowest(1yr data) | $29,518 | 0.9x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 2.16x | $68,758 | Strong ROI |
| Clemson University | 1.81x | $71,513 | Good ROI |
| University of Georgia | 2.27x | $68,726 | Strong ROI |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 2.06x | $82,860 | Strong ROI |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 1.88x | $60,249 | Good ROI |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 1.57x | $60,409 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
North Carolina State University at Raleigh stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $68,758 10 years after starting — $23,758 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.8 years — faster than most colleges.
Ready to apply to North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
See your odds of admission based on your GPA and test scores.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.