College Highlight

North Carolina State

From the Fiske Guide to Colleges

NC State lacks the high national profile of neighbors Duke and UNC at Chapel Hill, but it's an equally important player in North Carolina's Research Triangle—just ask the thousands of graduates who have moved into jobs in the area. Engineering, business, and biology are the most popular programs.

The 131-year-old, 2,100-acre campus consists of redbrick buildings, brick-lined walks, and cozy courtyards dotted with pine trees. There is no dominant style, but more of an architectural stream of consciousness that reveals a campus that has grown and changed with time. Holladay Hall has been designated as a historic site by the Raleigh City Council, while the ultramodern, $115 million Hunt Library features a game lab, visualization studio, digital production suites, and more than 100 collaborative spaces. For amusement you can always stroll over and watch its robotic book retrieval system in action. A major renovation to the Talley Student Union was recently completed. NC State's Centennial Campus is a 1,227-acre, public-private research campus where university researchers work alongside government, corporate, and nonprofit partners.

NC State excels in the professional areas of engineering, architecture, mathematics, agriculture, and forestry, which are among the largest and the most demanding divisions. Not surprisingly, given its location in the heart of textile country, the university also boasts the largest and one of the best textiles programs in the country. Engineering tops the list of most popular majors, followed by business, biological sciences, and agriculture. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the second largest school in the university, and strong nontechnical areas include communication, English, international studies, and social work. Notable programs are also available in genetics, soil and land development, biomedical engineering (with UNC at Chapel Hill), sport management, and turfgrass science.

NC State's star continues to rise as it becomes more selective. The students here are largely "hardworking and humble" North Carolinians; 86 percent are in-state students, and 4 percent are international. Six percent of undergraduates are African American, 5 percent are Hispanic, and 6 percent are Asian American. Conservatism is not uncommon, and the largest political organization is the College Republicans, but in general, according to a junior, "political and social activism are not widespread among the student body." Jocks and sports fans are visible, and the university offers 321 athletic scholarships in 23 sports. The 28 fraternities and 21 sororities attract 12 percent of the men and 19 percent of the women. The Greek scene provides much of the entertainment, but parties in dorms and at off-campus apartments are also popular. Alcohol policies are enforced, and if you're thinking about grabbing a brew, "don't try unless you're 21," warns a senior. 

North Carolina State seems to have overcome many of the obstacles associated with large land grant universities. It has attracted a dedicated and friendly student body independent enough to deal with the potential anonymity of a state school, but spirited enough to cheer the Wolfpack to victory. NC State works well for those who can shoot hoops and for those who can calculate the trajectory of the same three-point shot.