Discovering NC State: Your Guide to Campus Tours and Raleigh Exploration

Choosing a university is a significant decision, and experiencing the campus environment firsthand can be invaluable. North Carolina State University (NC State) offers a variety of ways for prospective students and their families to explore its campus and community, whether in person or virtually. This guide provides comprehensive information about campus tours, admissions sessions, and the surrounding city of Raleigh, helping you make an informed decision about your future.

Exploring NC State: A Variety of Options

NC State understands that prospective students have different needs and preferences when it comes to campus visits. Therefore, the university offers a range of options to suit various schedules and interests.

On-Campus Admissions Information Sessions and Tours

Prospective first-year and transfer students who have not yet applied to NC State are invited to attend an on-campus admissions information session followed by a student-led campus tour. Campus visits are offered Monday through Friday starting at Talley Student Union. These sessions provide valuable insights into the admissions process and academic programs, while the tours offer a glimpse into student life and campus facilities.

Information sessions will cover admissions information specific to prospective transfer students.

Virtual Information Sessions

For those unable to visit in person, NC State offers virtual information sessions. These online sessions provide a convenient way to learn about the university, its programs, and the admissions process from the comfort of your own home.

Read also: North Carolina Basketball Greats

Self-Guided Tours

If you prefer to explore at your own pace, NC State offers self-guided tours. These tours allow you to discover campus at your own pace-no tour group required. The self-guided campus tours are accompanied by a video playlist featuring undergraduate students. The video playlist and self-guided tour highlight well-known student spaces on NC State’s Main Campus, including Talley Student Union, Wellness and Recreation and D.H. Hill Jr. Whether you’re wandering through the Brickyard, checking out innovative classrooms or just soaking in the energy of student life, you’ll get a real feel for what it’s like to be part of the Wolfpack. Plus, our self-guided tour lets you focus on what matters most to you-whether that’s academic buildings, residence halls or the best places to grab a bite.

Start your experience at the Joyner Visitor Center to check-in and pick up a physical self-guided tour map and additional visitor materials. If you are on campus during our business hours, admissions counselors are available on a walk-in basis to ask any questions about our admissions process. If you’re heading to Main Campus, park at 2452 Cates Ave.

Group Tours

NC State welcomes prospective high school and transfer student groups to attend an on-campus admissions information session followed by a student-led campus tour. Group tours are approximately 90 minutes and offered to only prospective high school and transfer student groups. Information sessions are held at Talley Student Union. Visitors must pay to park in the Coliseum Deck. Visitors will need to enter the parking deck through the Cates Avenue entrance and pre-pay by phone using the ParkMobile app.

Important Information for Planning Your Visit

Scheduling: Tour availability is live and up-to-date on the pages below. We do not offer a waitlist for campus visits.
Duration: You can expect to be on Main Campus for approximately two hours.
Parking: There are a few options for visitor parking across NC State’s campus. Visitors must pay to park in the Coliseum Deck. Visitors will need to enter the parking deck through the Cates Avenue entrance and pre-pay by phone using the ParkMobile app.

Academics and Admissions

With 100+ majors across 10 undergraduate colleges, NC State offers a wide variety of academic programs to fit students’ interests. You must select a major of interest or two when completing the application to NC State, which is taken into consideration in the admission review process. We encourage students to register for college-specific sessions to learn more about the majors offered to narrow down their choice(s). Make sure to submit your application on time!

Still have questions? We know it can be confusing to determine how your credits from exams or dual enrollment courses transfer to NC State.

Read also: NOCCCD: Your Guide

Beyond the Campus: Exploring Raleigh

While your primary reason for visiting is to explore NC State, take the opportunity to discover the vibrant city of Raleigh. Raleigh is nationally recognized as a top destination for both students and young professionals. Main campus is centered around Hillsborough Street, one of the main corridors of Raleigh and a diverse collection of people and places. It’s no secret that Raleigh offers many benefits to students. We'll show you how to stay connected to Raleigh and love where you live!

Arts and Culture

You can get a good feel for Raleigh’s artistic culture at the North Carolina Museum of Art, which is definitely one of the most popular museums in Raleigh. The museum is very well curated with walk-through dioramas interactive exhibits and 3D movies. Discover more cultural and performing arts experiences on Hillsborough St.

Parks and Recreation

Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks, which gives you a hint as to how green it is. Raleigh’s green landscape never gets tiresome, and one of the best places to see it is Dorothea Dix Park, which is the largest of the parks in Raleigh. It’s the perfect place to unpack a picnic, throw a football around with some friends, or simply relax on the open meadows with a good book. Lake Johnson itself is beautiful and is one of the few lakes in Raleigh where you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats. It also passes by Pullen Park, another stunning park in Raleigh, and continues past Meredith College. Pullen Park is the oldest amusement park in Raleigh and dates back to 1887 - it happens to be the first public park in North Carolina and is the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the US. Umstead State Park is a bit further away from the college campus, but not too far. The park is a great place for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and even camping. The park has 5,000 acres of forest to explore, and you’ll be amazed by how quiet and serene it is, yet within a short distance of the University. This is just one of 3 accredited rose gardens in the state and is home to 1,200 roses in 60 different kinds. If you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to check out the events calendar for the Raleigh Little Theater, located behind the garden, as there are regular festivities happening, from outdoor movie screenings to performing arts performances.

Sports and Entertainment

While you’re in town for an NC State campus tour, why not take time to catch a game? During Spring you can cheer on the Wolfpack in a few sports. If tennis is more your thing, catch the NC State Women’s tennis at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center, or cheer on the distance runners and sprinters of the NC State Track & Field team, who have home events throughout the year. Raleigh is also home to the men’s United Soccer League team, North Carolina FC, and the women’s soccer team, NC Courage, who both play through the Spring! And the Durham Bulls baseball are 30-minutes away! You might be wondering whether Raleigh has enough entertainment for students to make it somewhere you’d like to live? Glenwood South is the nightlife district, and is ever evolving. Traditionally it’s a college student area that’s filled with entertainment offerings for young people.

Dining and Social Scene

NCSU is surrounded by numerous food options along Hillsborough Street and nearby. If you’re visiting Raleigh to tour NC State’s campus, don’t miss the chance to explore the vibrant dining and social scene just steps away on Hillsborough Street and The Bend on W Morgan. Two local favorites, State of Beer and The Bend Bar, are owned by the same team and offer the perfect post-tour hangout. At State of Beer, you’ll find a laid-back taproom serving beer and wine on draft alongside tasty handhelds like sandwiches, wings, and more. Right next door, The Bend Bar shifts the vibe toward craft cocktails in a cozy outdoor setting, complete with fairy lights strung through the trees and fire pits for cooler evenings.

Read also: Academic Pathways at UNC

Coffee Shops: Jubala Coffee is a great all-around coffee shop on Hillsborough Street, right across the road from NC State University (2100 Hillsborough St). They have a full coffee bar menu, and small bites menu, such as waffles, toasted sandwiches, baked goods and biscuits - I’m a big fan of their bacon + egg + cheese biscuit, and my kids their love the Nutella waffles! There’s outside seating on Hillsborough St where you can work under the views of the iconic NC State Belltower. As the name suggests, it serves organic coffee and tea and has a really cozy feel to it. They have a small, light menu with baked goods and sandwiches, and have some great breakfast options like a breakfast burrito or avocado toast. Lucky Tree is also on Hillsborough Street, but a bit further away from the university, about a 5-minute drive (3801 Hillsborough St). It’s a cozy coffee shop with a warming vibe. They have a wide range of organic coffee and tea options, as well as vegan and gluten-free baked goods. It also doubles up as an art and gift shop and sells goods that were handmade by more than 50 local artists.
Restaurants: A short walk from campus (105 Oberlin Rd), choose from intimate booths, tables on the sidewalk, or a bar stool. For starters I love Mimi’s Sausage Dip & Chips, but great range of bar food including entrees from the grill and salads. For great Vegetarian, Irregardless Cafe (901 W Morgan St) is a 3-minute drive away from main campus and one of the top vegetarian restaurants in Raleigh (meat options, too). They have a seasonal menu based on what’s growing that time of year and also have vegan options. The atmosphere is cozy, and the decor is clad with artwork from local artists. The restaurant is a casual, pizzeria style with the typical sports bar feels with games on the TV and NC State Wolfpack fans sharing beers and conversation. Char-Grill is a local fast-food chain that serves up some of the best burgers in Raleigh. Even placing your order is a trip down memory lane, as you fill out a paper order sheet with a pencil and then wait for your food to be fried up. If you need something quick to eat, this is the best place. Sammy’s (2235 Avent Ferry Rd) is another classic sports bar with booths and TV screens lining the entire bar area. For college sports, this is one of my favorite sports bars and NC State hangouts. You may even spot some Carolina Hurricanes fans here! The burgers and wings are good, plus there’s plenty of other typical bar food including tacos, pizza, sandwiches, and wraps. For quality Indian cuisine, Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar (105 Friendly Dr #101) is a local favorite with over one thousand 4.8-star reviews. Mitch’s is located above Global Village Coffee and across from NC State Uni and has an old-time feel, almost like a UK pub feel as you walk up the stairs to the second story bar area. Kitted out with wood-accent furnishings and quirky NC State memorabilia hanging on the walls. If you love smoothie bowls and acai bowls, then Playa Bowls (2526 Hillsborough St) is the place to go for freshness and taste! They have an environmentally friendly ethos and value nutrition and healthy food. For those who enjoy sushi, consider putting Sushi Nine on your itinerary. They serve beautifully created sushi rolls and tantalizing gyozas. Tazza Kitchen is a popular kitchen and bar in the heart of the Village District which is just behind Hillsborough Street and walking distance to main campus. It’s a bit fancier than the other restaurants on this list and makes for a perfect dinner experience, and if you end up attending State and meeting someone, quality date night option! They have a great cocktail bar with lots of options, including excellent craft cocktails, regional wines, local brews, and more. The menu is seasonal with freshly sourced ingredients from nearby farmers. Beer + pizza, what’s not to love? This combination makes Trophy Brewing & Pizza (827 W Morgan St) is less than a mile from main campus and one of the popular breweries in Raleigh. If you’re looking for the best patio view of downtown Raleigh, Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing (201 S Boylan Ave) can’t be beat. Great option for brunch on weekends, or lunch and dinner. Yes, the Player’s Retreat is getting a second mention. Even if you don’t eat here, pop in for a drink, or two. There’s a local tradition here in Raleigh, after a game day, NC State students head to The Player’s Retreat! This has been going on for over 70 years. It’s more sophisticated than your regualr bottle shop and a real neighborhood bar feel with a nice and welcoming ambiance. They even have board games and instruments you can play if you fancy it. Raleigh Brewing (3709 Neil St) is located in the same area as Lucky Tree Cafe and is a brewery that celebrates everything in Raleigh.
Libraries: Tour the James B. Hunt J. Library - one of the most advanced libraries in the world on NC State’s Centennial Campus and built to reflect the University’s status as a preeminent technological research university.

Accommodation

Raleigh has a variety of lodging options, perfect for planning a longer stay at NC State. While there is a wide selection of places to stay, we’ve listed hotels within ten miles of NC State’s campus for your convenience. All of these hotels offer discounts for guests affiliated with NC State.

The best part? They have free parking on site, an outdoor swimming pool and gym, and a restaurant and bar. Each room is spacious and homey. They also have a giant mural of Sir Walter Raleigh in the lobby. If it’s your first time in Raleigh with your family, why not treat yourself?
It offers free bikes for guests, private parking, and a well-equipped gym. All rooms are spacious and inviting and come with a desk and a flat-screen TV. You can read our full review of the Casso Hotel in Downtown Raleigh.
For those with a modest budget and who want to experience downtown Raleigh, the Residence Inn is a top choice and only a 6-minute drive away. Each room is a suite and comes with a kitchen, a work desk and coffee making facilities, which is perfect for those looking to be more self-sufficient and get some work done - maybe getting those applications in! We also love their 10th and Terrace rooftop restaurant and bar - great brunch.
Another practical place to stay near the university is the AC Hotel By Marriott, located right on Glenwood Ave.

Transportation

The NC State University Main Campus (North & Central) is boarded by Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard. Centennial Campus, is just a few minutes away on the wolfline (NC State’s bus system) and known as research campus and home to the College of Engineering and Wilson College of Textiles. And, Centennial Biomedical Campus is home of the College of Veterinary Medicine. I recommend you rent a car from RDU and drive yourself as a way of getting around Raleigh, as this way you can drive to many of the top attractions in Raleigh easily, and you can also cover more of the city in a shorter time frame. Alternatively, you can travel from RDU to NC State University by taking the GoTriangle bus Route 100, which costs just $2.25. Here’s more information on riding the bus in Raleigh. Wolfline is NC State’s bus service, tailored to student class schedules, and it also serves the general public fare-free. No university ID, pass or fare is required to ride!

The Research Triangle Park

Raleigh Durham’s Research Triangle Park (RTP), a renowned destination for high-technology enterprise. Top companies in the region include SAS Institute, IBM, Cisco Systems, Biogen and GlaxoSmithKline, and they lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

The Wolfpack Awaits

NC State is a leading research university that readies students for lifelong success. At NC State University, we create prosperity for North Carolina and the nation. We began as a land-grant institution grounded in agriculture and engineering. Our more than 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students learn by doing. They pursue original research and start new companies. They forge connections with top employers and serve communities local and global.

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