Admissions Factors
What NC State Looks For
NC State rates 2 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses and academic GPA.
How NC State rates each factor
Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.
Very important
Important
Considered
The numbers behind the class
Overall admit rate
39.5%
19,510 of 49,350 applicants
Early decision admit rate
No early decision
Admitted from the waitlist
11%
476 of 4,311 who stayed on it
Enrolled first-years had an average high school GPA of 3.84. 41% of those who reported a class rank were in the top tenth of their class.
Frequently asked questions
What does NC State look for in applicants?
NC State rates 2 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses and academic GPA.
Does NC State consider legacy status?
NC State rates alumni relation as "not considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Does NC State track demonstrated interest?
NC State rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".
What is NC State's waitlist acceptance rate?
4,311 students stayed on the waitlist and 476 were admitted, a rate of 11%. The number changes a lot from year to year because it depends on how many admitted students enroll.
Source: NC State’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.
