North Carolina State University At Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh prices access differently across income levels, and the spread is meaningful. Low-income families pay approximately $6,382 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,334, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,652.

Azimuth ranks North Carolina State University At Raleigh #436 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That positioning reflects the university's public-tuition structure and the reach of its need-based aid programs, which meaningfully reduce costs for qualifying families relative to the published cost of attendance of $26,425.

Need-based aid does real work at NC State, particularly for students in the lower income bands. The gap between sticker price and [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is most visible for low-income families, where institutional and federal grant aid together drive costs well below what higher-income families pay.

Middle-income families see moderate relief, though the spread between low- and middle-income net prices is narrower than at institutions with larger endowments. Families weighing the full cost picture should account for how aid eligibility shifts across income bands before comparing NC State's headline cost with peer institutions.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,121, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,943, median federal debt of $20,121 projects to a monthly payment of about $227 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn median earnings of $75,943 four years after enrollment, placing North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the 75.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $1,632 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the 50.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks North Carolina State University At Raleigh #291 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Engineering is the dominant program family, accounting for 23% of degrees, followed by Business at 17% and Social Sciences at 5%. Business Administration combines large cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.

Azimuth ranks Business Administration #27 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 841 graduates earning median earnings of $84,349. The Biology, General program graduates 415 students with median earnings of $61,384, and Azimuth ranks the program #106 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #15 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 305 graduates earning median earnings of $62,032. Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #67 and #158 respectively for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.