NC State vs. EMU

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Eastern Mennonite 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
Eastern Mennonite University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • EMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • EMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • EMU 1,154
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • EMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • EMU #1044
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • EMU Mennonite Church
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • EMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • EMU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • EMU $43,920
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • EMU $43,920
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • EMU $13,170
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • EMU $25,021
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • EMU $32,378
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • EMU 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • EMU 1,470
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • EMU 1,470
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • EMU 100%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • EMU 12.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • EMU 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • EMU 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • EMU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • EMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • EMU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • EMU
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • EMU 25/34
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • EMU 1040/1590
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • EMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • EMU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • EMU 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • EMU
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • General Studies (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • EMU 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • EMU $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • EMU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • EMU $23,450
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • EMU $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • EMU 36%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • EMU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • EMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • EMU No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • EMU 71%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • EMU 3%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • EMU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • EMU 8%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • EMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • EMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • EMU 3%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • EMU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • EMU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • EMU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • EMU 31%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than EMU based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 1,154 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

NC State vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or EMU? 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 EMU ($15,522 vs. $25,021).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Mennonite University are 8.1% lower than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($13,170 vs. $14,332).
  • Eastern Mennonite University is 399.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $35,121 more per year; $43,920.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.7% higher at EMU than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $11,073 more per year; $43,920.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Mennonite University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (96% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Mennonite University students is 177.3% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($32,378 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. EMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 70 points higher than at EMU (1320).
  • Incoming NC State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at EMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Eastern Mennonite University 1040/1590.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Eastern Mennonite University 25/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; EMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at EMU (3.7).
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 12.4% at EMU.

NC State vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State and EMU? 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 Eastern Mennonite University's (66%).
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than EMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $2,668 lower median loan debt than EMU graduates ($20,782 vs. $23,450).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EMU graduates ($214 vs. $242).
  • More EMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.