North Carolina State University is a public research university in Raleigh and the largest university in the state. It is best known for engineering, computer science, agriculture and textiles, and for Centennial Campus, where companies and researchers share the site. Choose it for an industry-connected degree at the heart of the Research Triangle.
Raleigh, United States
Official website: ncsu.edu
#311
Top 25 graduate engineering school in the US (U.S. News)
Top 30 (U.S. News)
Next to one of the largest research parks in the US
$30,000 – $36,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ncsu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
10 Months
Intake
Jun
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Computer Networking
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Poole College of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 85
Centennial Campus — over 70 companies and agencies share the site with researchers and students.
Institute for Advanced Analytics — the first MS Analytics programme in the US.
Research Triangle Park — IBM, Cisco, SAS and GSK are a short drive from campus.
Wilson College of Textiles — the only college of its kind in the US.
Graduates join IBM, Cisco, SAS, Red Hat, Lenovo and the Research Triangle's biotech and software firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
MS Analytics graduates report a placement rate above 90% within three months of finishing.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-85,000.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The main campus lies just west of downtown Raleigh, with the red-brick Court of North Carolina at its centre and Centennial Campus, home to engineering and textiles, linked by free buses.
Raleigh is a fast-growing capital city in the Research Triangle, with mild winters, moderate rent and one of the strongest tech job markets in the US South.
Form I-20 issued by NC State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Action closes 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme: computer science and most engineering master's close around 1 December to 1 March, and the MS Analytics has rounds from October to February.
Undergraduates start in the fall (August). Many computer science, engineering and networking master's programmes also admit for spring (January), while the MS Analytics starts in June and the Poole MBA is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of International Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, analytics, computer networking and the Poole MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80-100 or IELTS 6.5-7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 45%.
NC State offers very little aid to international undergraduates, so budget for the full non-resident cost. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which waive tuition and pay a stipend and are common in engineering and computer science. Check each department's funding page for details.
