U of A vs. NC State

Should I go to University of Arizona or North Carolina State University at Raleigh? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of A or NC State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Arizona vs. North Carolina State University at Raleigh comparison
University of Arizona North Carolina State University at Raleigh College 3 College 4
University of Arizona North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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Overview

U of A NC State
Location Tucson, AZ Raleigh, NC
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 49,403 36,700
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #294 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arizona.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

U of A NC State
Tuition (In State) $11,525 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $37,827 $28,276
Room & Board $13,650 $12,748
Avg Net Price $17,075 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $15,279 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 71%

Admission

U of A NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,091 35,568
Admitted 45,194 16,779
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 47.2%
Enrolled % 20% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 28/33
SAT Range 1140/1370 1280/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

U of A NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

U of A NC State
Graduation Rate 61% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,000 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $196 $214

Diversity

U of A NC State
% Men 45% 51%
% Women 55% 49%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 52% 74%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 25% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

U of A NC State
% In-State 47% 83%
% Out-of-State 48% 14%

Campus

U of A NC State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arizona is larger than than NC State based on total student enrollment (49,403 students vs. 36,700 students)

U of A vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or NC State?

  • University of Arizona is 76.4% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.8% higher at U of A than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($37,827.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than U of A ($14,852 vs. $17,075)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 7.1% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($12,748 vs. $13,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (98% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 66.4% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($15,279 vs. $9,181)

U of A vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of A or NC State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NC State or U of A .

  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at U of A (3.48)
  • U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than NC State (47.2%)

U of A vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, U of A or NC State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NC State and U of A.

  • The graduation rate at NC State is higher than University of Arizona (72% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $3,200 more per year than U of A graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $54,000)
  • University of Arizona students graduate with a $1,782 lower median federal student loan debt than NC State graduates. ($19,000 vs. $20,782)
  • U of A graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than NC State graduates. ($196 vs. $214)
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/