UCLA vs. NC State

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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.

University of California Los Angeles
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

UCLA vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or NC State? 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 University of California Los Angeles than NC State ($14,512 vs. $15,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 22% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,332 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 72.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $6,404 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.4% higher at UCLA than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $16,556 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at University of California Los Angeles (51% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 119.5% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($25,627 vs. $11,675).

UCLA vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 30 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at NC State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • NC State has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 31.8% at NC State.

UCLA vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $4,482 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($16,300 vs. $20,782).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($168 vs. $214).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.