Research Universities

There’s a reason the area around Raleigh is called the Research Triangle Region. It’s actually due to the Research Triangle Park, which is an incredible story in and of itself, but the Research Triangle Park was created and named as a direct result of the three tier 1 research universities that create a triangle around it. 

North Carolina State University (Raleigh) is home to more than 34,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. A land grant institute known for its focus on applied research, State is an impressive generator of new technologies, successful startups and rock-solid employees. The university is the nation’s 3rd largest recipient of industry-sponsored research among public universities without a medical school.

NC State’s Centennial Campus simply couldn’t be replicated today. The reason why is simple. The campus sits on 1,100 acres—think Central Park, but larger—immediately adjacent to a nationally ranked research university in one of the country’s fastest growing cities. Yet, thanks to tremendous forethought by state leaders almost 30 years ago, industry easily interacts with students, faculty, government agencies and other businesses to develop new commercially viable technologies.

Duke University (Durham) — just 25 miles from NC State, sits Duke—one of the finest private universities in the nation. With an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students, this academic and athletic powerhouse has annual research expenditures that exceed $650 million. While this university is well known as a legitimate national contender in basketball year in and year out, it’s the Schools of Medicine, Law, Business, Engineering and Divinity that reap the most acclaim.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the westernmost corner of the Triangle, yet it is still just a short drive from NC State and only 8 miles from Duke. Ask most people what they think of when they think of UNC Chapel Hill and any number of images may pop into their heads. But what most people don’t think of, and what the University can be incredibly proud of, is that it was the very first public university in the nation. Needless to say a lot has changed since it was founded in 1789. Most notably, the university is now educates close to 30,000 students and recently eclipsed the $800 million mark in research grants and contracts.