freshman - Am I Competitive?

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Admission to NC State is competitive. After all, we're one of the nation's top research universities. Many of our programs have earned regional and national attention, including our design program, which is one of the most comprehensive in the Southeast, and our physics program, which is ranked among the nation's best. We expect our students to be high-achievers, but in return we offer a quality education that will help set you on the right path for a successful, satisfying career.

General Criteria

Your high school academic record is the most important factor affecting your admission. The most competitive students take a rigorous college prep curriculum and maintain at least a B+ average or better throughout high school. When reviewing your application, our Admissions Office considers:

  1. Level and difficulty of classes taken
  2. Overall GPA and class rank
  3. SAT or ACT Plus Writing scores not more than 5 years old
  4. Extracurricular activities, including leadership and community service

To be considered for freshman admission you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and satisfy the UNC-system Minimum Course Requirements (MCR):

If you have not completed these requirements, you may still be able to qualify for transfer admission.

Criteria for Individual Colleges

Specific colleges at NC State vary in terms of selectivity.

College

Admission Criteria
Agriculture & Life Sciences  
     Agricultural Institute * Open
     Agriculture Programs Selective
     Life Sciences Programs Highly Selective
Design ** Highly Selective
Education Highly Selective
Engineering Highly Selective
Humanities & Social Sciences Highly Selective
Management Highly Selective
Natural Resources *** Selective
Physical & Mathematical Sciences Highly Selective
Textiles Selective
First Year College Highly Selective

Highly Selective: Successful candidates typically meet or exceed the following criteria: top10-15% of their high school class in the most rigorous college prep courses, B+ to A- grade point average, and highly competitive standardized test scores (SAT or ACT).

Selective: Successful candidates typically meet or exceed the following academic criteria: top 25-30% of their high school class in very demanding college prep courses, B+ grade point average, and competitive standardized test scores (SAT or ACT).

Open: *The Agricultural Institute offers two-year technical programs leading to associate of applied science degrees in agricultural areas. The courses are not transferable to the four-year agricultural programs. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited high school with at least a 2.0 GPA minimum grade point requirement will be waived for applicants 21 years and older and transfer students or those who have successfully passed the GED exam. Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation and official high school or GED transcripts. SAT or ACT scores are not required.

**College of Design: If you are interested in a College of Design major, it should be listed as your first choice and your application should be submitted and complete (along with a separate online portfolio) by November 1. If you are a domestic freshman applying for the Design Studies major, the deadline is February 1. The College of Design will not consider second choices for Design majors. Design applications are reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and, if found to be academically competitive, are forwarded to the College of Design for review. To assess creative potential, candidates must present a portfolio of works created inside and/or outside school. High school art classes are not required for acceptance, but they are encouraged. For more information regarding the portfolio, contact the College of Design. Design applicants will be notified on January 15 whether their application is under review by the College of Design for their first choice, or whether it is being considered for second choice of major in a different College at NC State. Notification of Admission Decisions will be at the end of March.

***Natural Resources: The Professional Golf Management (PGM) program has additional criteria for admissions consideration. Applicants must present verification of a golf handicap of 12 or less by United States Golf Association (USGA) card, Professional Golfers' of America (PGA) golf professional, high school golf coach, or have successfully passed the PGA Playing Ability Test (PAT); a letter of recommendation from a PGA golf professional or high school golf coach.

Non-Public and Home School Requirements

The criteria for the admission of non-public or home-schooled students are the same as any other freshman applicant and include:

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