North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a public land-grant Research 1 university in Raleigh, NC, serving 40,500+ students through 12 colleges and conducting $506M in annual sponsored research with strong technology commercialization (2,500+ patents, 265+ startups) and statewide extension reach across all 100 NC counties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1887
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What North Carolina State University does
North Carolina State University is a public land-grant Research 1 university founded in 1887 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, operating as the flagship STEM campus of the University of North Carolina System. The institution serves 40,500+ students, 2,500+ faculty, and 7,700+ staff across 12 colleges, 68 departments, and more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs (160 master's, 62 doctoral, 120+ online). Its core product is a vertically integrated platform combining undergraduate/graduate education, continuing education, and large-scale sponsored research, supported by the Centennial Campus public-private research park housing 70+ corporate, government, and nonprofit partners. NC State's research portfolio spans materials science (self-healing composites, carbon-fiber precursors), biotechnology (Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein, splice-switching oligonucleotide platform), quantum computing (IBM Quantum Innovation Center, hybrid quantum/classical drug discovery workflows), AI (NSF AI Institute for Engaged Learning, LLM safety research), transportation systems (autonomous-vehicle "white phase" traffic signal), and agriculture (NC State Extension serving all 100 NC counties). Technology commercialization is a distinct output: 2,500+ issued patents have produced 650+ consumer products and 265+ startups/spinoffs, ranking #1 for active commercialization agreements among universities without a medical school. Revenue is diversified across six streams — tuition and fees, state appropriations, federal/state/private research grants ($506M in FY25), philanthropy and endowment ($2.54B endowment, $2.1B Think and Do Campaign), technology licensing and royalties, and online/distance education. GTM is multi-modal: direct-to-consumer student recruitment across undergraduate, graduate, and online channels; enterprise field sales for industry research partnerships and licensing through Centennial Campus; and community-led delivery through 101 county extension centers reaching every North Carolina county.
North Carolina State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North Carolina State University
- Legal name
- North Carolina State University
- Website
- https://ncsu.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1887
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- North Carolina State University is a public land-grant Research 1 university in Raleigh, NC, serving 40,500+ students through 12 colleges and conducting $506M in annual sponsored research with strong technology commercialization (2,500+ patents, 265+ startups) and statewide extension reach across all 100 NC counties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North Carolina State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education and Research Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD)
Keywords
Where North Carolina State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
North Carolina State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate student tuition and fees. NC State is a public university serving 40,500+ students.
- State Appropriations: State government funding as a land-grant institution in the UNC System.
- Research Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and private research funding from agencies including NSF, DOE, USDA, DOD, and industry partners. NC State received $506 million in new sponsored research awards for fiscal year 2025.
- Philanthropy and Endowments: Private donations and endowment returns. NC State has a $2.54 billion endowment and raised $43.6 million from 18,028 gifts on Day of Giving 2026. The Think and Do Campaign raised $2.1 billion.
- Technology Licensing and Royalties: Revenue from licensing university-developed technologies and patents to companies for commercialization.
- Online and Distance Education: Revenue from online degree programs, certificates, and courses offered to distance learners. NC State offers 120+ online programs and 1,000+ courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | In-state undergraduate tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Out-of-state undergraduate tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Online and distance education programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
North Carolina State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North Carolina State University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional education across 12 colleges and 68 departments, with more than 100 undergraduate majors and over 200 master's and doctoral programs. It also conducts sponsored research (over $500 million annually), licenses patented technologies, offers online/distance education programs, and operates extension services across all 100 North Carolina counties.
Product overview
North Carolina State University is a public research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs across 12 colleges and 68 departments, with more than 100 undergraduate majors and 200 master's and doctoral programs. The university's research portfolio includes major interdisciplinary centers such as the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein (a $30 million biomanufacturing hub for plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated meat proteins), the NSF AI Institute for Engaged Learning, the STEPS Center (phosphorus sustainability), the FREEDM Systems Center (smart-grid technology), the ASSIST Center (wearable health monitors), and the Nonwovens Institute. Workforce development offerings include the WolfTRAC apprenticeship program (converting instructional assistants into licensed teachers) and the Pulp and Paper Basics Workshop. The university also offers free food traceability compliance training ahead of the 2028 FDA rule. NC State operates the IBM Quantum Innovation Center and Centennial Campus, a public-private research park housing more than 70 industry, government, and nonprofit partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wolfpack: The mascot and nickname of NC State University's athletic teams and broader community identity
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs More than 100 undergraduate majors offered across 12 colleges, providing degree-seeking students with classroom and research-based learning leading to bachelor's degrees.
- Graduate Degree Programs 160 master's programs and 62 doctoral programs spanning engineering, sciences, management, education, design, textiles, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and other fields.
- Online and Distance Education Programs 120+ online academic programs and 1,000+ courses delivered to remote learners, including online MBA and online master's in electrical and mechanical engineering.
- NC State Extension Services Research-based agricultural, food, health, nutrition, and youth development programs delivered to residents of all 100 North Carolina counties via county extension offices.
- WolfTRAC Apprenticeship Program An apprenticeship program that converts instructional assistants into fully licensed teachers within 18 months, allowing participants to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching while continuing full-time work in Wake County Public Schools.
- NC State Food Traceability Training
Quantifiable outcome
- $506 million in new sponsored research awards for FY25
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use North Carolina State University
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
North Carolina State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability11 records
Feature8 records
North Carolina State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schneider ElectriccoreFive-year research partnership to develop technology solutions for the new energy landscape, focusing on grid resilience, building and industrial efficiency, energy storage, and grid modernization. Builds on partnership established in 2014 with Schneider Electric as active member of NC State's FREEDM Systems Center.
- AmazonminorAmazon is involved as one of 200+ organizations in the National Safety Council's MSD Pledge initiative focused on reducing musculoskeletal disorders in workplaces. NC State researchers collaborate on safety technology research and trials.
- Virginia TechminorVirginia Tech is among multiple universities collaborating on the MSD Pledge initiative with NC State and other organizations to research and trial safety technologies.
- NIIMBLcoreNIIMBL (National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals) announced 39 funding awards supporting domestic biopharma production, including work by NC State on improving adeno-associated viral vector production for gene therapy and workforce training programs.
- SAScoreCollaboration between NC State, East Carolina University, and SAS on a pilot project in Hyde County deploying affordable agricultural sensors measuring water depth, soil moisture, and salinity in real time, feeding into SAS Analytics for IoT to help farmers predict flooding and manage drainage.
- East Carolina UniversitycorePartnership with East Carolina University and SAS to deploy agricultural sensors for flood and salinity management in North Carolina farming communities.
- RailincminorResearch partnership to analyze how shifting freight volume from trucks to trains can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and lower environmental impacts. Study aims to identify feasible opportunities for modal shifts to support infrastructure planning and emissions reduction.
- Mars MaterialscorePartnership to validate CO2-derived product (Hoigen-C) as a carbon-negative precursor for carbon fiber production. NC State researchers successfully demonstrated that Mars Materials' bio-based acrylonitrile is chemically identical to traditional PAN made from oil and coal, meeting high-performance carbon fiber standards.
- EverbloomminorPartnership with deep-tech startup Everbloom to scale protein-based fibers from industrial protein waste using the Nonwovens Institute's pilot spinning equipment. Development batches being sent to yarn manufacturing partners including Tuscany-based Filati Biagioli Modesto.
- Hoth TherapeuticsminorNC State developed splice-switching oligonucleotide platform technology that has been licensed to Hoth Therapeutics for cancer cell-targeting applications. Patent protection secured in China through 2039.
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC)coreU.S. Army DEVCOM CBC acquired melt spinning capability through multi-year collaboration with NC State's Nonwovens Institute to create customizable nonwoven fibers for applications including N95 masks and chemical-biological protection.
- UNC-Chapel HillcoreJoint research partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State receiving $400,000 grant from NCInnovation to advance wearable technology for osteoarthritis detection and treatment.
Scale indicators25 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
North Carolina State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Florida: Large public R1 with high research expenditures, top-5 public university rankings, and a growing online/continuing education portfolio. Comparable on scale, ranking tier, and revenue diversification beyond tuition.
- University of Michigan: Public R1 with very high research expenditures and strong engineering, public-private research partnerships, and a high volume of patents and spinoffs. Comparable in research ranking tier and commercialization scale.
- Purdue University: Public land-grant R1 with a similar engineering/agriculture emphasis, top-tier research expenditures, and large online engineering program. Comparable on patent output, extension service model, and STEM-focused brand.
- Texas A&M University: Public land-grant R1 with very large enrollment, major engineering and agriculture programs, and substantial industry-sponsored research. Comparable in extension reach, R1 research scale, and STEM emphasis.
- Georgia Institute of Technology: Public STEM-emphasized R1 university with strong engineering, computing, and industry partnerships, including industrial research parks analogous to NC State's Centennial Campus. Highly comparable on commercialization rankings, sponsored research, and STEM student outcomes.
- Virginia Tech: Public land-grant R1 with strong engineering, agriculture, and industry-partnered research, plus an active extension presence across Virginia. Overlaps with NC State on research expenditures without medical school, sponsored funding mix, and Southeast corridor identity.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The other flagship campus of the UNC System and NC State's most direct peer in geography, mission, and state funding. UNC-Chapel Hill offers a broader medical/public-health portfolio but overlaps significantly in research scale, public-university brand, and the same admissions market.
- Pennsylvania State University: Large public land-grant R1 with extensive extension services, very high research expenditures, and significant online education offerings (Penn State World Campus). Closely matched to NC State in scale, mission, and revenue mix.
Regional players
- Clemson University: Public land-grant R1 in South Carolina with engineering, agriculture, and strong industry partnerships, particularly automotive. Comparable in Carnegie R1 status and Southeast public-university recruiting market but smaller in research scale.
Broad incumbents
- Duke University: Elite private research university in the same Research Triangle region, with a medical school and stronger overall research funding. Overlaps in industry partnerships and recruiting market but operates at a different funding scale and mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
North Carolina State University social profiles
Digital presenceNorth Carolina State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North Carolina State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
North Carolina State University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries18 records
North Carolina State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds13 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North Carolina State University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North Carolina State University
What does North Carolina State University do?
North Carolina State University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional education across 12 colleges and 68 departments, with more than 100 undergraduate majors and over 200 master's and doctoral programs. It also conducts sponsored research (over $500 million annually), licenses patented technologies, offers online/distance education programs, and operates extension services across all 100 North Carolina counties.
Is North Carolina State University a public or private company?
North Carolina State University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was North Carolina State University founded?
North Carolina State University was founded in 1887. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is North Carolina State University based?
North Carolina State University is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does North Carolina State University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Appropriations, research Grants and Contracts, philanthropy and Endowments, technology Licensing and Royalties and online and Distance Education.
Who are North Carolina State University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Florida, University of Michigan, Purdue University, Texas A&M University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Pennsylvania State University. Clemson University is listed as a regional player. Duke University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does North Carolina State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for North Carolina State University.
What industry is North Carolina State University in?
North Carolina State University's product category is Higher Education and Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAD, Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.