ASU vs. NC State

Should I go to Appalachian State University or North Carolina State University at Raleigh? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU or NC State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Appalachian State University vs. North Carolina State University at Raleigh comparison
Appalachian State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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Overview

 ASU NC State
Location Boone, NC Raleigh, NC
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 20,436 36,700
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #594 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ASU NC State
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $20,246 $28,276
Room & Board $11,582 $12,748
Avg Net Price $13,084 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $7,443 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 71%

Admission

 ASU NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,255 35,568
Admitted 18,489 16,779
Acceptance Rate 83.1% 47.2%
Enrolled % 21.2% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.83
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 28/33
SAT Range 1100/1270 1280/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 ASU NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

 ASU NC State
Graduation Rate 65% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $211 $214

Diversity

 ASU NC State
% Men 42% 51%
% Women 58% 49%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 74%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 ASU NC State
% In-State 87% 83%
% Out-of-State 13% 14%

Campus

 ASU NC State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 20,436 students)

ASU vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or NC State?

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is 54.1% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($6,535.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.7% higher at NC State than Appalachian State University ($28,276.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than NC State ($13,084 vs. $14,852)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 10.1% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($11,582 vs. $12,748)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Appalachian State University (71% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 23.4% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($9,181 vs. $7,443)

ASU vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or NC State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NC State or ASU .

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 107 points higher than at ASU (1157)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at ASU (26)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at NC State (3.83)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than NC State (47.2%)

ASU vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU or NC State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NC State and ASU.

  • The graduation rate at NC State is higher than Appalachian State University (72% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $15,600 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $282 lower median federal student loan debt than NC State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $20,782)
  • ASU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than NC State graduates. ($211 vs. $214)
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/