North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, is the largest institution of higher learning in the state. NC State University is organized into 10 colleges with more than 28,000 students. Founded in 1887, NC State maintains a commitment to teaching, research, extension, and public service. In fulfilling this commitment, the University plays a key role in the economic development of the state.

The College of Engineering at NC State comprises 12 departments offering 18 BS, 17 MS, and 13 PhD degree programs. The undergraduate engineering program is the seventh largest in the US, and the graduate and research programs consistently rank among the best in the nation. Fall 2007 enrollment was 5,700 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students. In 2006-2007, the College awarded 1,200 BS degrees and 500 graduate degrees.

Admission to the College of Engineering is competitive, based upon evaluation of the high school record, grade point average, class rank, and standardized test scores. Most students entering the College of Engineering as freshmen have completed a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with an overall average of "A-" or better during all four years of high school. Although participation in extracurricular activities is considered, the high school academic record is heavily emphasized.

The college has 910 teaching, research, and other professional staff members (249 are tenured or tenure-track; 11 are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering). The College is proud of the reputation of its faculty researchers, whose research interests span a wide range of topics including advanced computing, multimedia systems, microelectronics, surface effects in materials, characteristics of semiconductor materials, high temperature superconductors, biotechnology processing, robotics, communications and signal processing, wireless/networking systems, manufacturing technology, environmental engineering, structural and construction systems, ergonomics, and precision engineering. Total annual research expenditures for 2006-2007 were approximately $104 million. In addition to federal contracts and grants, support also comes from contracts with industry and state agencies and from state appropriations.