North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs San Diego State University

North Carolina State University at Raleigh and San Diego State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: San Diego State University is more selective with a 34.4% acceptance rate compared to North Carolina State University at Raleigh's 39.9%.

Cost: San Diego State University offers a lower average net price at $16,174, which is $757 less than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($16,931). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median salary of $68,758 ten years after enrollment, which is $3,849 more than San Diego State University graduates ($64,909).

Graduation: North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with a 84.6% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 93.4% vs 90.3%.

Campus Size: San Diego State University is the larger campus with 33,654 total students, while North Carolina State University at Raleigh has 26,389.

Bottom Line: San Diego State University wins on affordability while North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.