NC State vs. Drexel

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Drexel University? 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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Drexel University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; Drexel University 9:1.

NC State vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Drexel? 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 Drexel ($15,522 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 20.8% lower than at Drexel University ($14,332 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 609.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $53,613 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90% higher at Drexel than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $29,565 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 200.2% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($35,051 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NC State or Drexel? 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 Drexel and NC State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 50 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming NC State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

NC State vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State and Drexel? 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).

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $20,200 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $5,461 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($20,782 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($214 vs. $271).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

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.