Compare historical evidence, then verify your personal fit and cost.
Build a college shortlist| Measure | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | North Carolina State University at Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Campus | NC | NC |
| Institution type | Public | Public |
| Historical average net price | $11,655 | $17,303 |
| Four-year constant-cost scenario | $46,620 | $69,212 |
| In-state published cost of attendance | $27,498 | $26,604 |
| Out-of-state published cost of attendance | $59,338 | $49,476 |
| Admission policy / historical acceptance rate | 17.0% | 39.8% |
| Six-year graduation rate | 91.6% | 84.7% |
| Verify your cost | Official cost calculator / college cost page | Official cost calculator / college cost page |
Reporting years are not verified for every imported field. Historical averages are not current prices or aid offers; public net-price averages may cover in-state students. The four-year scenario assumes unchanged cost and aid, excluding inflation and loan interest.
Application scope: First-year applicants. UNC's 2026–2027 catalog explicitly describes fall 2026 admissions and directs readers to admissions for 2027 updates; NC State's cited pages do not specify an entry year for every policy.
UNC's catalog says applicants claiming North Carolina residency must complete the Residency Determination Service process and provide a Residency Classification Number. It also notes that moving between schools or colleges may require an internal application. Check the intended program and the updated admissions calendar for your entry year. Official source: UNC application and residency requirements.
NC State engineering students begin in Engineering First Year without direct acceptance to a specific engineering major. They use the Change of Degree Application (CODA) process to join a department. Review its requirements and timing alongside any engineering intent listed in the admission offer. Official source: NC State engineering major entry.
NC State's first-year instructions require applicants to studio-based majors to apply by November 1 and submit a portfolio. This program deadline needs attention even if you are considering a later general admission deadline. Official source: NC State studio-major deadlines.
For an engineering or design decision, map the required steps through admission to the degree program. For cost and aid, confirm your residency classification and each college's aid requirements rather than assuming that a North Carolina address settles tuition.
Sources checked . Policies can change; verify the linked pages for your entry year. This check date covers the policy notes, not the reporting years of the historical metrics above.
Campus admission rates are historical context, not personal admission probabilities.
Open both official calculators above using the same household information. Compare grants, annual out-of-pocket cost, borrowing and renewal conditions. Historical net price is context, not your offer.
Work through the affordability checklist →The six-year rate describes an institution-level historical cohort. It does not predict your outcome or necessarily describe transfer, part-time or major-specific experiences. Ask each college about completion in your major, advising, required course availability and support.
Understand the cohort and data limitations →Saved categories start as target placeholders; they do not assess personal admission chances. Explore academic fit or check affordability.
Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard. Institution-level outcomes describe past cohorts and do not predict individual results.
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