Overview
North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina has competed in club esports since 2018. The program is a student-run club rather than a varsity team run by the university. Its teams currently compete in VALORANT, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League. The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (esports.ncsu.edu, 2025-26); contact the program directly. Federal College Scorecard data shows an average net price of $17,303 per year, an acceptance rate of 42% and a graduation rate of 85% across 27,371 undergraduates.
Esports details verified 2026-10-10 · Federal data retrieved 2026-10-10
Esports scholarships at NC State
No esports scholarships published
NC State doesn't publish esports scholarship terms. Ask the program staff about athletic or participation awards during recruiting.
The esports program
- Level
- Club (student-run)
- Founded
- 2018
- Conference / league
- Not published
- Facility
- Not published
- Titles fielded
- 5
Cost & outcomes vs. other esports schools
Compared with the median of all 405 esports programs we track.
| Tuition (in-state / out-of-state) | $8,799 / $32,847 |
|---|---|
| Average net price (after grants) | $17,303 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 20% |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,121 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 15:1 |
Who studies at NC State
27,371 undergraduates, shown as 100 people.
- White 66%
- Hispanic/Latino 9%
- Black 6%
- Asian 10%
- Two or more races 5%
- International 2%
- Other / unknown 2%
- Women
- 50%
- First-generation
- 19%
- Pell recipients
- 20%
Frequently asked questions
Does NC State offer esports scholarships?
The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (esports.ncsu.edu, 2025-26); contact the program directly. Scholarship terms can change each season, so confirm with the program before applying.
What games does NC State esports compete in?
NC State fields club teams in VALORANT, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League, according to the program's published information.
How much does NC State cost per year?
The average annual net price — cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving aid — is $17,303. Published tuition is $8,799 in-state and $32,847 out-of-state (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard).
How hard is it to get into NC State?
NC State admits 42% of applicants, per the College Scorecard.
When did NC State start club esports?
NC State's club esports program began in 2018.
Sources
- Esports program and scholarship terms: esports.ncsu.edu (2025-26)
- Cost, admissions, outcomes and demographics: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-10-10
- Photo: Melizabethi123, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Research notes
The competitive teams belong to the student-run Esports Club at NC State (getinvolved.ncsu.edu/organization/esports), formed in 2018 when several campus groups merged. Its 8 teams play other collegiate clubs. NC State's brand guide says the university's 'NC State Esports' program (run by the Libraries, director Cody Elsen, launched with one-time state funding) is separate from the club and has no varsity teams. Titles come from a Nov 2023 NC State News feature, which also names Smite and Fortnite, plus an undated article adding Rocket League. The 2025-26 lineup is unconfirmed. Smash runs as a separate student club. No league names are published. fac is empty because the Lenovo Esports and Gaming Lab (Hunt Library, opened Jan 2024) is a university lab, not a team facility. A Mann Hall arena is planned for late 2027. The logo is a non-free en.wikipedia file, not a Commons file.
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