HPU vs. NC State

Deciding between High Point University 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.

High Point University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HPU High Point, NC
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • HPU Midsize City
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • HPU 6,331
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • HPU Private 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HPU
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HPU United Methodist
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • HPU Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HPU
  • NC State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HPU $45,312
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HPU $45,312
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • HPU $18,924
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • HPU $43,086
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HPU $22,664
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HPU 95%
  • NC State 51%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HPU 17,572
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • HPU 13,233
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HPU 75.3%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • HPU 11.5%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HPU 1220
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • HPU 28
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • HPU 3.4
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HPU B+
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HPU Difficult
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • HPU
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • HPU 24/33
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • HPU 1110/1320
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HPU Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HPU Mar 1, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HPU 21:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HPU
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HPU -
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HPU $42,000
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HPU 69%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HPU $22,421
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HPU $231
  • NC State $214
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HPU 42%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • HPU 58%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HPU Low
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • HPU No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • HPU 79%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • HPU 2%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • HPU 5%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • HPU 4%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • HPU 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HPU 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HPU 5%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • HPU 3%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HPU 1%
  • NC State 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HPU 25%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HPU 73%
  • NC State 12%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare High Point University in High Point, NC 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 HPU based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 6,331 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • High Point University is located in High Point, NC (Midsize City setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • High Point University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: High Point University 21:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

HPU vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU 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 HPU ($15,522 vs. $43,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 24.3% lower than at High Point University ($14,332 vs. $18,924).
  • High Point University is 415% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $36,513 more per year; $45,312.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.9% higher at HPU than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $12,465 more per year; $45,312.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at High Point University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (95% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 94.1% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($22,664 vs. $11,675).

HPU vs. NC State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HPU 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 HPU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 170 points higher than at HPU (1220).
  • Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at HPU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: High Point University 1110/1320; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: High Point University 24/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HPU - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HPU Mar 1, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at HPU (3.4).
  • HPU has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at HPU vs. 31.8% at NC State.

HPU vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HPU 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).

  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than HPU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $1,639 lower median loan debt than HPU graduates ($20,782 vs. $22,421).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HPU graduates ($214 vs. $231).
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HPU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)

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.