We’re Among the Best of the Best, Thanks to You

Hello, Wolfpack community,

I’m pleased to share with you the news that NC State has achieved its highest-ever ranking on the U.S. News and World Report 2025 Best Colleges list, landing at 26th overall among top public universities in the nation. Among universities nationwide — public and private — we rank 58th, another best-ever ranking.

More information about our overall rankings, including those for specific programs, can be found here.

This year’s Best Colleges list demonstrates what we already know: that NC State is among the best of the best. We continue to be recognized for our excellence in teaching, research and scholarship because of you — our incredible students, faculty and staff — and all you bring to this place each and every day.

The work you do each day helps advance our mission and vision. Just last week, we announced two significant research hub advancements — one for batteries and another for semiconductors. NC State is quite literally engineering the future. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication; I’m proud to be a part of such an incredible institution.

As we approach the midpoint of the fall semester, I encourage you to reflect on what it means to be a part of this community, beyond the rankings. Please take advantage of your resources on campus — they’re here to help you succeed. And take time to connect with your fellow students, faculty and staff.

We’re proud of our rankings, and justifiably so. But rankings don’t measure the heart and soul of an institution, the commitment to solving intractable problems, or the effort to make our communities, local and beyond, better places to live and thrive. That is solely reflected by our people and the Think and Do spirit that unites us all.

Thank you,

Randy Woodson
Chancellor