North Carolina State University facts for kids
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Former names
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North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (1887–1918) North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (1918–1962) North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh (1963–1965) |
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| Motto | "Think and Do" |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Established | March 7, 1887 |
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Parent institution
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University of North Carolina |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $2.03 billion (2023) |
| Chancellor | William Randolph "Randy" Woodson |
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Academic staff
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2,464 |
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Administrative staff
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7,130 |
| Students | 37,873 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 25,973 (Fall 2019) |
| Postgraduates | 10,331 (Fall 2019) |
| Location |
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United States
35°47′14″N 78°40′14″W / 35.78722°N 78.67056°W |
| Campus | Large city, 2,110 acres (8.5 km2) |
| Newspaper | Technician |
| Radio station | WKNC |
| Colors | Red and white |
| Nickname | Wolfpack |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Mr. Wuf & Mrs. Wuf |
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North Carolina State University (often called NC State) is a large public university in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It was started in 1887 and is part of the University of North Carolina system. NC State is the biggest university in the Carolinas.
The university is known for its strong programs in engineering, statistics, agriculture, life sciences, textiles, and design. It offers many different degrees, from bachelor's degrees to doctoral degrees. More than 35,000 students attend NC State.
NC State's sports teams are called the Wolfpack. They compete in NCAA Division I and have won ten national championships. The "Wolfpack" name became popular in 1921.
Contents
History of NC State
NC State was founded on March 7, 1887. Its first name was "North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts." This meant it was a land-grant college. These colleges were set up to teach practical subjects like farming and engineering, along with military training.
At first, only white students could attend. In 1917, the name changed to "North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering." During the Great Depression, NC State joined with the University of North Carolina and the Woman's College (now University of North Carolina at Greensboro) to form the University of North Carolina system in 1931.
After World War II, many veterans used the G.I. Bill to go to college, and NC State grew a lot. In 1956, following a Supreme Court ruling, NC State welcomed its first African-American undergraduate students.
The university's name changed a few times. In 1965, it officially became "North Carolina State University at Raleigh." However, most people just call it "North Carolina State University" or "NC State."
In 1987, NC State celebrated its 100th birthday. It also started developing a new area called Centennial Campus. This campus is a place where university research, businesses, and government agencies work together.
NC State is now one of the main parts of North Carolina's Research Triangle. This area is a hub for research and technology, along with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Exploring the Campuses
Main Campus
NC State's Main Campus has three parts: North, Central, and South Campus. North Campus is the oldest and has most of the academic buildings. Central Campus has many dorms and student facilities. South Campus has Greek houses and parking areas. Tunnels connect North and Central Campuses, allowing students to walk easily between them.
The Main Campus is famous for its red brick buildings. You'll see brick statues and sidewalks, and a large open area called "The Brickyard" because it's paved with bricks.
The Memorial Belltower is a famous symbol of NC State. It's in North Campus and was built to honor alumni who died in World War I. The granite tower is 115 feet (35 meters) tall. After big sports wins or academic achievements, the Belltower is lit up in red.
Near the Belltower is the Court of North Carolina. This area used to have 100 trees, one for each county in North Carolina. A hurricane in 1996 damaged many of them, but some new trees have been planted.
Southwest of the Court is the Free Expression Tunnel. This tunnel goes under the railroad tracks. Students are allowed to paint graffiti here, sharing messages, art, or advertising events.
The Wolfline bus service helps students get around campus and to sports events.
Centennial Campus
NC State also has the 1,334-acre (5.4 km2) Centennial Campus. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Belltower. This campus is home to university research, businesses, and government offices. The Wilson College of Textiles and many engineering departments are located here.
Centennial Biomedical Campus
The Centennial Biomedical Campus is about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the Belltower. This campus is where the College of Veterinary Medicine is located. It's the only veterinary medicine program in North Carolina. The campus has many buildings for research, a teaching hospital for animals, and a working farm.
The J. C. Raulston Arboretum is an 8-acre (0.03 km2) garden run by NC State. It's open to the public for free every day.
NC Research Campus
NC State is one of eight universities with a presence at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC. Here, NC State runs the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI). This institute studies food crops, like fruits and vegetables, and how they can help human health.
Academics and Learning
University Structure
NC State is one of 17 schools in the University of North Carolina system. Each campus has its own leaders, but they all follow rules set by the UNC system board.
NC State has a board of trustees that makes decisions for the university. The chancellor, currently Randy Woodson, leads NC State.
The university has eleven academic colleges. Each college offers different degrees. For example, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers degrees in farming and related sciences. The College of Veterinary Medicine focuses on animal health.
In total, NC State offers many different degree programs. It is well-known for its programs in agriculture, engineering, textiles, and design.
Academic Divisions
As of the 2018–2019 school year, NC State had these colleges and academic departments:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Design
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Natural Resources
- Poole College of Management
- College of Sciences
- Wilson College of Textiles
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- The Graduate School
- University College
Becoming a Student
NC State is a selective university, meaning it accepts about half of the students who apply for undergraduate admission. For the class of 2019, about 50% of applicants were accepted.
Students who get into NC State often have good grades. The university also looks at SAT scores. When applying, students choose a main area of study, and that specific college within NC State must also accept them.
The Graduate School handles applications for master's and doctoral degrees.
Libraries and Resources
The NCSU Libraries system is ranked among the top research libraries in North America. It has millions of books, journals, and digital resources. There are five libraries, including two main ones.
The D. H. Hill Library on Main Campus is a large building with nine stories. The James B. Hunt Jr. Library on Centennial Campus is even bigger and opened in 2013. NC State also shares resources with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill through a special network.
University Rankings
| ARWU World | 201–300 |
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| THES World | 301–350 |
| USNWR National University | 60 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 89 |
| Forbes | 65 |
NC State is recognized as an "Innovation and Economic Prosperity University." This means it's good at creating new ideas and helping the economy.
U.S. News & World Report often ranks NC State among the top national universities and public universities in the U.S.
Many of NC State's specific programs are highly ranked:
- The College of Engineering is often in the top 25 nationally. Its Nuclear Engineering program is one of the best in the world.
- The Wilson College of Textiles is the only college in the U.S. dedicated to textiles and is considered one of the best globally.
- The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) program was the first of its kind in the U.S.
- The College of Veterinary Medicine is highly ranked nationally.
- The College of Design is also well-regarded, with its Graphic Design program ranking high.
NC State is also known for its Entrepreneurship program and is often listed as a "best value" public college.
Scholarships and Support
NC State offers several special scholarships:
- The Caldwell Fellows Program helps students develop leadership skills and focuses on helping others.
- The Goodnight Scholars Program provides a large scholarship each year to students.
- The Centennial Scholarship is for students in the Wilson College of Textiles.
Special Programs
The Entrepreneurship Initiative This program helps students develop new ideas and start their own projects or businesses. It provides support and resources for young entrepreneurs.
Young and Teen Writers' Workshops This is a summer program for middle and high school students who love creative writing. Held on campus, it teaches skills in fiction, poetry, and other writing styles. It's one of the oldest and most affordable writing programs for young people in the country.
Athletics and Sports
NC State sports teams are called the Wolfpack. They play in NCAA Division I and are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball.
The Wolfpack has won ten national championships. Their biggest rival is the North Carolina Tar Heels. NC State was one of the first members of the ACC.
The main logo for NC State athletics is a red block 'S' with an 'N' and 'C' inside. The mascots are Mr. and Mrs. Wuf.
Athletic Facilities
NC State has several sports venues. Carter–Finley Stadium and the PNC Arena are located a few miles from the main campus. These are used for football and basketball games. Reynolds Coliseum on campus is home to women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and men's wrestling.
Student Life
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 68% |
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| Asian | 8% |
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| Hispanic | 7% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Black | 6% |
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| Foreign national | 3% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 18% |
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| Affluent | 82% |
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Student life at NC State offers many activities and groups. These include cultural groups, arts groups, and sports clubs.
Living on Campus
About 35% of undergraduate students live in one of the nineteen residence halls (dorms). Many dorms have special "villages" where students with similar interests live together, like the Honors Village or Engineering Village.
Student Government
NC State's Student Government is run by students. It acts as the official voice for the student body. This group helps make policies, plans events, and supports other student organizations.
Student Traditions
Service NC State
This event welcomes new students to campus by having them participate in community service projects. It's a way for students to help the local community.
Homecoming Week
Homecoming Week is a big event usually held in October. It includes a kickoff, a parade, and a pep rally with a concert. Students also compete in a campus-wide spirit competition.
Shack-A-Thon
Since 1991, Shack-A-Thon has been a tradition to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. Students build small shacks in the Brickyard and live in them for a week. They collect donations to help build houses for families in need.
Krispy Kreme Challenge
This fun tradition involves students running 2.5 miles (4 km) to a Krispy Kreme donut shop, eating twelve glazed doughnuts, and then running back to the Bell Tower, all within one hour! Money raised from this race goes to the NC Children's Hospital.
Student Media
Technician is NC State's student-run newspaper, published since 1920. It covers campus news, sports, and entertainment.
The Nubian Message is NC State's African American student newspaper, published every two weeks.
The Agromeck yearbook is the oldest student publication, documenting student life on campus each year.
NC State also has its own student-run radio station, WKNC. It broadcasts at 25,000 watts and reaches a wide area.
Windhover is the university's literary and arts magazine, published once a year. It features art and writing from students, staff, and alumni.
Notable Alumni
Many people who attended NC State have gone on to do amazing things in various fields.
In politics, notable alumni include John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator, and James B. Hunt Jr., who served four terms as Governor of North Carolina. Robert Gibbs was a former White House Press Secretary.
Rajendra Kumar Pachauri was the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Christina Koch, a NASA astronaut, earned two degrees from NC State.
Many alumni have become leaders at big companies, such as Jeff Williams, the chief operating officer of Apple Inc., and James Goodnight, the founder of SAS Institute.
Over 50 NC State alumni have become high-ranking generals in the United States military. This includes General Hugh Shelton, a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In entertainment, actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis attended NC State. Country singer and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery also attends NC State. The comedians Rhett and Link, known for their internet show Good Mythical Morning, are also alumni.
Athletes
Many NC State students have become professional athletes. Bill Cowher coached the Pittsburgh Steelers football team to a Super Bowl win. Over 130 NC State alumni have played in the NFL, including Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson.
More than 40 alumni have played in the NBA, such as Hall of Famer David Thompson and Thurl Bailey.
Images for kids
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Patrick Bailey, major league catcher
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Jim Goodnight, founder of SAS Institute
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Henry H. Shelton, former chairman of the U.S. Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff
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Philip Rivers, former NFL quarterback and Pro Bowler
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Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, former chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
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Rhett and Link, two comedians who host the morning internet show Good Mythical Morning
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Christina Koch, astronaut.
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Carolina del Norte para niños
- University Statisticians of the Southern Experiment Stations
