NC State has historical strengths in engineering, statistics, agriculture, life sciences, textiles, and design and offers bachelor's degrees in 106 fields of study.

The name was unofficially adopted in 1921 following an unsigned letter to the NC State Alumni News suggesting the moniker "Wolf Pack".

As a land-grant college, North Carolina A&M would provide a liberal and practical education while focusing on military tactics, agriculture, and the mechanical arts without excluding classical studies.

Indeed, school officials have long discouraged using "at Raleigh" except when absolutely necessary, as the full name implies that there is another branch of the university elsewhere in the state.

[25] In 2009, NCSU canceled a planned appearance by the Dalai Lama to speak on its Raleigh campus, citing concerns about a Chinese backlash and a shortage of time and resources.

The Campus Community Alliance for Environment Justice, a student-led coalition, was formed to petition the college for increased transparency.

Finally, Greek Court, the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, and student park-and-ride areas are found on South Campus.

[34][35] In 2008, racist and threatening graffiti in the tunnel directed at then President-elect Barack Obama prompted an investigation from the United States Secret Service.

Located 1 mi (1.6 km) south of the Memorial Tower, this campus houses university, corporate, and government research, in addition to classrooms and non-student residences.

[39] The North Carolina State University Centennial Biomedical Campus is located 2.5 mi (4.0 km) west of the NCSU Memorial Tower.

"[46][47] In March 2008, NC State launched the University Sustainability Office in order to address environmental concerns on campus.

[49] In addition, the university has surpassed the Executive Order 156 goal of diverting 40 percent of their solid waste stream from the landfill through a variety of campus reuse and recycling programs.

Each college is composed of numerous departments that focus on a particular discipline or degree program, for example Food Science, Civil Engineering, Genetics or Accounting.

NC State's Nuclear Engineering program is considered to be one of the best in the world and in 2020, was ranked 3rd in the country (behind MIT and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor).

Patil highlighted the MSA program in Harvard Business Review as one of only a few sources of talent with proven strengths in data science.

In 2018, the Animation Career Review ranked NC State's Graphic Design program 4th in the country and best among public universities.

[104] In fiscal year 2019, NC State University received 95 awards and $29,381,782 in National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funds for Research.

By organizing and energizing its entrepreneurial efforts through the initiative, NC State hopes to provide a comprehensive springboard for ideas, projects, and partnerships.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

The name was unofficially adopted in 1921 following an unsigned letter to the NC State Alumni News suggesting the moniker "Wolf Pack".

Prior to the adoption of the current nickname, NC State athletic teams went by such names as the Aggies, the Techs, and the Red Terrors.

[127] Student life at North Carolina State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations.

In 2014, 8,000 runners participated and the committee raised $200,000 bringing the cumulative total donated to the NC Children's Hospital to $758,000 since the race's inception.

The paper is funded by advertisement and a student media fee; it is distributed for free at numerous locations on campus and at area merchants.

A number of NC State alumni and faculty have made significant contributions in the fields of government, military, science, academia, business, arts, and athletics, among others.

Alumnus Munir Ahmad Khan gained international recognition for his work in reactor quantum physics and later guided the scientific research in nuclear weapons for Pakistan's atomic bomb programs.

[162] Donald Bitzer, the father of plasma television and Emmy Award winner, sits on the faculty of NC State.

Notable former players include Philip Rivers, Don Buckey, Torry Holt, Roman Gabriel, Ted Brown, Dick Christy, Perry Williams, Haywood Jeffires, Vaughan Johnson, Jerry Punch, Jim Ritcher, Koren Robinson, Dewayne Washington, Jerricho Cotchery, Tank Tyler, and 2006 number one pick Mario Williams.

Notable current players include Bradley Chubb of the Miami Dolphins; Nyheim Hines of the Cleveland Browns; Garrett Bradbury of the Minnesota Vikings; Jacoby Brissett of the New England Patriots, Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Another 41 alumni have played for the NBA including Naismith Hall of Fame member David Thompson[167] and players Tom Gugliotta, Kenny Carr, Spud Webb, Cedric Simmons, Julius Hodge, J.J. Hickson, Josh Powell, T. J. Warren, Dennis Smith Jr., and Thurl Bailey.