Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
NC State graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth from early to mid-career, with median earnings increasing from $57,623 six years after enrollment to $65,113 at eight years and $68,758 at ten years. This represents 19.3% growth between the six-year and ten-year marks, indicating steady career advancement as graduates gain experience.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $20,121 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
NC State graduates carry a median debt of $20,121, slightly above the peer median of $20,000 but within typical ranges for public research universities. Debt levels range from $8,750 at the 25th percentile to $26,786 at the 75th percentile, indicating meaningful variation in borrowing patterns among students.
North Carolina State University delivers above average return on investment, ranking at the 70.3rd percentile with strong long-term earnings relative to educational costs. Graduates earn a median of $68,758 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 85th percentile nationally and $8,215 above the peer median of $60,543.
Approximately 24.6% of NC State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence. This indica...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Computer Science drives the strongest earnings outcomes at $98,925, followed by Chemical Engineering at $94,710 and Biomedical Engineering at $92,574. These engineering and technology programs consistently exceed $85,000 in median earnings while maintaining strong national rankings.
Business programs deliver solid outcomes with Business Administration producing $69,742 for the largest cohort of 665 graduates. The contrast between high-earning STEM programs and moderate-earning fields like Biology ($57,457) or Psychology ($45,056) illustrates how program choice significantly influences return on investment.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation across career paths, with the 25th to 75th percentile spread ranging from $45,891 to $99,809. This 2.2:1 ratio reflects differences in program choice and career trajectory, with engineering graduates significantly outearning those in agricultural or environmental sciences.
