UConn vs. NC State

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than UConn based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut 17:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

UConn vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than UConn ($15,522 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 0.3% lower than at University of Connecticut ($14,332 vs. $14,380).
  • University of Connecticut is 139.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $12,245 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at UConn than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $10,865 more per year; $43,712.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (81% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 41.4% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($16,503 vs. $11,675).

UConn vs. NC State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 60 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UConn students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at NC State (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 31.8% at NC State.

UConn vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $718 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($20,782 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($214 vs. $222).
  • More UConn 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.