NC State vs. Villanova

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

NC State vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State or Villanova? 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 Villanova ($15,522 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 19% lower than at Villanova University ($14,332 vs. $17,694).
  • Villanova University is 670.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $58,977 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.3% higher at Villanova than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $34,929 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at Villanova University (51% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 307.8% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($47,609 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 60 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at NC State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • NC State has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

NC State vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $27,900 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $5,715 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($20,782 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($214 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.