North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina A&T is a public, land-grant HBCU founded in 1891 in Greensboro, NC, serving 13,885 students across nine colleges. It is the nation's largest HBCU and a leading producer of African American engineering graduates, pursuing R1 research status with federal grant-funded research centers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1891
- HeadquartersGreensboro, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University does
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) is a public, land-grant, doctoral higher research university founded in 1891 in Greensboro, North Carolina, operating within the University of North Carolina System. It is the largest historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the United States per the U.S. Department of Education for the past decade, serving approximately 13,885 students across nine colleges and schools, including the College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, and the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics. NC A&T's core product is higher education delivery — undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs — augmented by a growing portfolio of specialized research centers (Centers of Excellence in Cybersecurity, Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Research and Technology, Aviation Safety, Bioenergy, and Trustworthy AI, plus a Climate Resilience Center). Recent product launches include the Smart Intersection Test Facility (March 2026), an outdoor LiDAR-, radar-, and DSRC-equipped living lab for connected and autonomous vehicle research with the City of Greensboro and N.C. DOT, and an approved Ph.D. in Bioengineering (June 2026).
The university's underlying technology stack spans cloud computing platforms for genomics data science training (NIH-funded educational hub), LiDAR/radar/DSRC sensor arrays streaming real-time data to connected vehicle infrastructure, joint nanoscience/nanoengineering research facilities, and applied AI/ML pipelines for atmospheric and climate modeling. Proprietary assets include the Harold L. Martin Engineering Research and Innovation Complex housing the Smart Intersection Test Facility, and an extensive federal research apparatus. Its business model rests on three revenue pillars: (1) state appropriations and tuition as a UNC System public university (in-state and out-of-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships); (2) recurring federal research grants from USDA NIFA, NIH, DoD, NSF, IMLS, and NTIA (capacity-building, project, and equipment awards); and (3) corporate partnerships (Google $5M HBCU STEM grant, Merck biomedical research, E.l.f. Beauty diversity research, Paciolan athletics technology, and the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation). The institution is actively pursuing R1 Carnegie Classification under Chancellor James R. Martin II and a newly appointed provost, with six senior leaders recently added to support the transition.
NC A&T serves multiple customer segments. Its primary "buyer" personas are prospective undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. Secondary segments include federal research agencies (USDA, NIH, DoD, NSF) that fund research initiatives, corporate partners seeking diverse talent and research collaboration, and community partners like Cone Health addressing health equity. Distribution is hybrid: traditional on-campus enrollment via admissions marketing, campus visits, and high school outreach; A&T Online for remote learners; cooperative extension for agricultural outreach; and strategic co-development partnerships with state agencies. Recent ranking recognitions include Top 25 America's Most Innovative Universities (U.S. News 2024), Best College HBCU, America's Most Affordable Doctoral University (Money 2024), and Best College rankings for Computer Science, Nursing, and Social Mobility.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Legal name
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Website
- https://ncat.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1891
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- North Carolina A&T is a public, land-grant HBCU founded in 1891 in Greensboro, NC, serving 13,885 students across nine colleges. It is the nation's largest HBCU and a leading producer of African American engineering graduates, pursuing R1 research status with federal grant-funded research centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF), STEM-Focused Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAE)
Keywords
Where North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greensboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Federal Research Grants: USDA NIFA capacity building grants supporting 68 projects across 1890 historically black Land-grant Universities focusing on agricultural research, education, and extension activities.
- NIH Research Funding: National Institutes of Health grants for genomics educational hub and biomedical research including protein kinases and cellular signaling projects.
- Department of Defense Funding: DoD Center of Excellence funding for biotechnology and materials science research, developing detection and monitoring technology for chemical and biological threat agents.
- Corporate Grants: Google $5 million grant for scholarships, career readiness, mentorship, and technological infrastructure as part of broader $50 million HBCU STEM initiative.
- Clean Energy Research Grants: Federal grants for creating high-paying clean energy jobs for students through research and workforce development programs.
- AI Literacy Grants: Institute of Museum and Library Services funding for AI education and workforce training initiatives as part of national AI literacy programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate tuition and fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public land-grant doctoral research university that delivers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs across nine colleges including Engineering, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Business and Economics, Health and Human Sciences, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. The university conducts federally funded research in biotechnology, genomics, connected vehicles, clean energy, AI, and cybersecurity, and operates specialized research centers and facilities including the Smart Intersection Test Facility, DoD Center of Excellence in Biotechnology and Materials Science, and NIH Genomics Educational Hub. Academic programs are delivered both on-campus and through A&T Online.
Product overview
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant, doctoral research university with a national reputation in STEM education. The university's product portfolio consists of academic degree programs across multiple colleges (Engineering, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Business and Economics, Health and Human Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering) and specialized research centers (including Centers of Excellence in Cybersecurity, Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Research and Technology, Aviation Safety, Bioenergy, and Climate Resilience). The institution is pursuing R1 research university status and offers Ph.D. programs in Bioengineering, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Applied Science and Technology, and various other doctoral programs, alongside undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Aggies: Athletics and spirit brand for North Carolina A&T sports teams
- Aggieland
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Four-year bachelor's degree programs across STEM, business, education, health sciences, agriculture and environmental sciences, arts and humanities, and nanoscience, including ABET-accredited engineering programs and AACSB-accredited business programs for high school graduates and transfer students.
- Graduate Degree Programs (Master's and Doctoral) Master's and doctoral degree programs across multiple disciplines including engineering, agriculture, business, health sciences, nanoscience, and education, offered through the Graduate College for students pursuing advanced research and professional training.
- A&T Online Online education platform offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs for remote students, providing flexible access to NC A&T academic programs through distance learning.
- Ph.D. in Bioengineering Newly approved doctoral program in bioengineering offered through the College of Engineering, expanding NC A&T's research doctorate offerings and supporting its pursuit of R1 research classification.
- Smart Intersection Test Facility Outdoor research test facility equipped with LiDAR, radar, and dedicated short-range communication devices that stream real-time data to connected vehicles and infrastructure systems, providing a living laboratory for traffic monitoring, safety analytics, autonomous navigation, and adaptive traffic control research under real-world conditions.
Quantifiable outcome
- No. 1 largest HBCU for the past decade
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- PaciolancoreMulti-year partnership with Paciolan, a Learfield company, to implement mobile ticketing and email marketing solutions for Aggies Athletics. Enables fans to purchase tickets, receive them via text, and scan for event entry using NFC contactless technology.
- National Advanced School of Public Works, CameroonminorFulbright award recipient Professor Laquanda Johnson developing international research partnerships with faculty and students in Yaoundé.
- Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI)flagshipFounding member of national coalition of 15 HBCUs to accelerate research excellence and increase number of HBCUs achieving R1 Carnegie Classification. Co-located with Association of American Universities with $1 million grant support.
- Forge GreensborocorePartnership with Forge Greensboro to expand student access to innovation and experiential learning resources. Collaboration provides hands-on experience in prototyping, digital fabrication, and entrepreneurship through shared facilities and programs.
- City of GreensborocorePartnership to unveil Smart Intersection Test Facility at university's Harold L. Martin Engineering Research and Innovation Complex. Outdoor test site equipped with advanced sensors for connected vehicle testing and traffic safety analytics.
- North Carolina Department of TransportationcorePartnership on Smart Intersection Test Facility for transportation safety research. Collaborates on connected vehicle technologies and autonomous navigation testing.
- Association of American UniversitiescoreAHRI coalition co-located with AAU to elevate HBCU leadership in addressing societal challenges and support R1 research classification pursuit.
- Cone HealthcorePartnership to bring healthcare facilities to East Greensboro. Cone Health owns 40% of the facilities at The Resurgent development. Three healthcare facilities expected to serve 25,000 visits annually, addressing health equity in underserved areas.
- University of RochesterminorResearch collaboration as part of W. M. Keck Foundation grant for polariton chemistry research project 'Quantum Electrodynamics for Selective Transformations.'
- University Transportation Center of ExcellencecoreStatewide partnership including Elizabeth City State University and N.C. State to develop infrastructure guidelines as drone traffic increases in North Carolina.
- E.l.f. BeautycorePartnership on Change the Board Game initiative studying gender diversity on corporate boards. Research found companies with above-mean gender diversity delivered 3.0% ROE vs -0.2% for below mean.
- MerckcoreIndustry partnership for biomedical research collaboration focusing on protein kinases and cellular signaling, with aim to advance cancer research and develop new biotechnologies.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hampton University: Private HBCU in Virginia with doctoral programs in STEM, pharmacy, and engineering. Comparable in HBCU brand recognition and STEM program strength, though private governance structure differs.
- Alabama A&M University: Public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution in Huntsville, AL with comparable focus on agriculture, engineering, and applied sciences. Similar size and federal grant funding profile.
- Howard University: Federally chartered, private HBCU research university in Washington, D.C. with comparable doctoral programs across STEM, business, and health sciences. Most direct peer given R2/R1 status pursuit, federal research funding mix, and HBCU leadership positioning.
- Tuskegee University: Private HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution in Alabama with strong engineering, agricultural, and veterinary programs. Comparable 1890 land-grant mission and federal research funding mix.
- Morgan State University: Public HBCU research university in Baltimore, MD that recently achieved R1 Carnegie Classification. Direct comparable given parallel land-grant status, doctoral portfolio expansion, and HBCU research excellence ambitions.
- Southern University and A&M College: Public HBCU and 1890 land-grant system flagship in Louisiana. Comparable land-grant status, agricultural and engineering programs, and federal research grant dependence.
- Prairie View A&M University: Public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution in Texas within the Texas A&M System. Comparable land-grant mission, STEM focus, engineering programs, and USDA capacity grant funding structure.
- Florida A&M University: Public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution in Tallahassee, FL. Comparable size and mission with strong STEM, pharmacy, and agricultural programs, and similar federal grant dependence for research.
- Tennessee State University: Public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution in Nashville, TN. Comparable Carnegie classification trajectory, federal research grant mix, and STEM-focused land-grant mission.
Regional players
- North Carolina Central University: Public HBCU in Durham, NC also within the UNC System. Regional peer sharing state funding dynamics, though more focused on law, business, and education rather than STEM and land-grant research.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University social profiles
Digital presenceNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds16 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical 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 Agricultural and Technical State University
What does North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University do?
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public land-grant doctoral research university that delivers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs across nine colleges including Engineering, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Business and Economics, Health and Human Sciences, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. The university conducts federally funded research in biotechnology, genomics, connected vehicles, clean energy, AI, and cybersecurity, and operates specialized research centers and facilities including the Smart Intersection Test Facility, DoD Center of Excellence in Biotechnology and Materials Science, and NIH Genomics Educational Hub. Academic programs are delivered both on-campus and through A&T Online.
Is North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University a public or private company?
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University founded?
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was founded in 1891. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University based?
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is headquartered in Greensboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Federal Research Grants are the primary driver. The others are NIH Research Funding, department of Defense Funding, corporate Grants, clean Energy Research Grants and AI Literacy Grants.
Who are North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hampton University, Alabama A&M University, Howard University, Tuskegee University, Morgan State University, Southern University and A&M College, Prairie View A&M University, Florida A&M University and Tennessee State University. North Carolina Central University is listed as a regional player.
Does North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
What industry is North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in?
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAB, Land-Grant Public Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.