College comparison

NC State vs UC Irvine

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	NC State Raleigh, NC	UC Irvine Irvine, CA
Acceptance rateUniversity of California-Irvine is more selective	42%	29%
SAT (25–75)	1300–1470	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	27,371	30,197
Avg net price	$17,303	$14,251
Median earnings (10 yr)UC Irvine reports higher median earnings	$68,758	$80,735
Graduation rate	85%	87%
Median debt	$20,121	$15,000
Economic mobility	—	6.8%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of California-Irvine harder to get into?

University of California-Irvine is more selective: North Carolina State University at Raleigh's acceptance rate is approximately 42% and University of California-Irvine's is approximately 29% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of California-Irvine?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1300–1470 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh and — at University of California-Irvine. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.