NC State vs. Furman

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh and Furman 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
Furman University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Furman Greenville, SC
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Furman Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Furman 2,554
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Furman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Furman #104
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Furman -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Furman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Furman
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Furman $59,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Furman $59,770
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Furman $16,504
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Furman $34,086
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Furman $42,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Furman 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Furman 10,813
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Furman 4,644
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Furman 42.9%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Furman 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Furman 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Furman 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Furman 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Furman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Furman Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Furman Low
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Furman 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Furman 1260/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Furman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Furman Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Furman 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Furman
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Furman 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Furman $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Furman 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Furman $25,443
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Furman $263
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Furman 41%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Furman 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Furman Low
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Furman No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Furman 78%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Furman 2%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Furman 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Furman 4%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Furman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Furman 2%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Furman 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Furman 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Furman 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Furman 62%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Furman based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 2,554 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Furman University is in Greenville, SC (Large Suburban setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Furman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; Furman University 10:1.

NC State vs. Furman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Furman? 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 Furman ($15,522 vs. $34,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 13.2% lower than at Furman University ($14,332 vs. $16,504).
  • Furman University is 579.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $50,971 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82% higher at Furman than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $26,923 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Furman University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 266.7% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($42,811 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. Furman Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 40 points higher than at Furman (1350).
  • Incoming NC State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Furman (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Furman University 1260/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Furman University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Furman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027; Furman Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Furman (3.61).
  • Furman has a higher acceptance rate (42.9%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 13.1% at Furman.

NC State vs. Furman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Furman University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Furman graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $4,661 lower median loan debt than Furman graduates ($20,782 vs. $25,443).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Furman graduates ($214 vs. $263).
  • More Furman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.