Last Updated: April 05, 2022
Study in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, or the City of Oaks, is known for the scenic beauty that the lines of oak trees provide to the city. Students who love to study amidst nature will find Raleigh to be an ideal location offering both quality education and enough outdoor activities to spend one’s leisure time. The city has plenty of museums, most of which have free entry, that can be an educational experience for people who wish to learn about the culture and heritage of the city. The museums here include the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of History, etc.
The city has over 10 universities and colleges where students will be able to take undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. There is one public university and one popular community college in the city along with plenty of private educational institutions.
Places to Stay in Raleigh
Since Raleigh is home to over 10 universities and colleges, one will be able to find plenty of student localities where accommodation is relatively cheap. Students will be able to choose to live in dormitories that colleges provide or they will be able to get shared apartments close to or away from the city center. Accommodation expenses are highest when closer to the city center. A few of the student localities in Raleigh include-
- Downtown Raleigh- This location is close to the Campbell Law School, Shaw University, and William Peace University. Students who stay here will be able to keep themselves occupied by visiting the art venues, museums, parks, and other places of importance. They will also be able to explore the historic neighborhoods in the area.
- East Raleigh- This locality is found close to Downtown and is also where Saint Augustine’s University is. Students who stay here will be able to get apartments for cheap rates when compared to other parts of the city.
- West Raleigh- This place is home to both Meredith College and North Carolina State University. There are plenty of different housing options here from which students can choose what is ideal for them. Apartment rates can be a little more expensive here when compared to other localities but the place has plenty of entertainment options and is mostly occupied by students and families.
Cost of Living in Raleigh
The cost of living in Raleigh, North Carolina, is lower than in most cities in the country. The highest expense a student will have while living here is for accommodation which they will be able to reduce substantially by sharing an apartment or living away from the city center. Students who stay close to their universities will be able to save on transportation expenses and those who reduce eating out at all times will also be able to reduce their monthly expenditures considerably.
The average monthly cost a student will have while living by themselves is around $900 without calculating rent. If one is to calculate rent this amount can be around $3,000 depending on where they are staying and their lifestyle.
Accommodation and Utility Expenses
Students who stay in Raleigh will be able to find student housing in different parts of the city. Most students prefer to stay in shared apartments with other students. This will considerably reduce the burden of paying high rent while living here. Students will be able to find affordable housing in student localities near their universities. The accommodation expenses will be highest when located close to the city center and this will gradually reduce when one moves away from the city center.
The accommodation expense for a one-bedroom apartment can range anywhere between $1,000 to $1,500. Utility expenses generally come below $150 per month.
Grocery Expenses
The basic grocery prices in Raleigh are-
- Milk- $0.80 per liter
- Cheese- $8 per kg
- Tomatoes- $4 per kg
- Potatoes- $2.5 per kg
- Onions-$2 per kg
- Apples- $4.5 per kg
- Wine- 13 per bottle
Transportation Expenses
Raleigh is one of the cities where students will be able to bike or walk to get to their locations easily. The city does not have an extensive train system since the most preferred mode is to use one’s vehicle. Students will mostly have to live within short distances from their university if they do not wish to get stuck in traffic jams during peak hours.
The local bus system here is called the GoRaleigh bus service and the Wolfline bus service where the latter is the North Carolina bus service. Students who choose to take the Wolfline service will be able to travel fare-free even without a student ID since transportation is free for all. In the GoRaleigh bus service, the fee is $2 for a one-way ticket. Students will also be able to get a monthly pass for $40.
Programs to Study in Raleigh
The best programs one can study while in Raleigh are-
- Business
- Communication
- Journalism
- Management
- Social Sciences
Top Universities in Raleigh
A few of the universities in Raleigh are-
North Carolina State University
This university was established in the year 1963 and is a publicly funded university that focuses on research. Students will be able to take undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs at this university. It has a student population of over 36,000 along with over 2,000 academic staff. The fields of study offered here include agriculture & life sciences, design, education, engineering, humanities, natural resources, sciences, veterinary medicine, etc.
The estimated fee per year for in-state students is $16,000 with financial aid and around $25,000 without financial aid. The out-of-state tuition fee is around $45,000 per year.
Meredith College
This college was established in the year 1891 and is a women’s college focusing on liberal arts. It has a student population of around 2,000. The fields of study offered here include arts, music, social work, etc. out of which popular majors include psychology, biomedical sciences, business, and management.
The estimated fee per year for studying here is around $24,000 with financial aid and around $54,000 without financial aid for all students.
Campbell Law School
This school is also known as the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and was established in the year 1976. They offer dual degree programs like JD and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, JD, and Masters in Accounting, JD and Masters in Business Administration, JD and Masters in Divinity, JD and Masters in Public Administration, JD and MSc in Public Health, etc.
The estimated tuition fee is around $23,000 per year for all students.
William Peace University
This university was established in the year 1857 and is privately funded. It offers only undergraduate programs to students in the field of arts, fine arts, and sciences. The programs offered include anthropology, arts administration, marketing, business administration, middle school education, musical theater, political science, communication, criminal justice, etc.
The estimated fee for studying here is around $24,000 per year with financial aid and around $49,000 per year without financial aid for all students.
Saint Augustine’s University
This university was established in the year 1867 and is a historically black university. It has a student population of around 1,000 students. The fields of study offered here include business, arts & education, social sciences, visual & performing arts, natural sciences, military science, etc. The popular programs here include criminal justice, business administration, kinesiology, sociology, etc.
The tuition fee per credit hour here is around $500.
Entertainment Options in Raleigh
Students who live in Raleigh will be able to immerse themselves in the musical experiences that the city provides. The place also offers people handmade art and craft materials through different boutiques and markets. Students will also be able to explore the festivals conducted here throughout the year. The place has different museums and historic sites that people will be able to visit. Nature lovers will be able to go to the parks, lakes, and gardens in the city.
Places to Visit in Raleigh
Being the capital of North Carolina, this city offers students plenty of places they can visit. The city has museums, parks, and art galleries. The place has a Southern charm to it which blends perfectly with the metropolitan nature of the city. There are plenty of museums, parks, and other places one can visit during their stay here. A few of these places are-
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences- This museum is located in Downtown Raleigh and like most museums here has free general admission. They have interactive exhibits that students will be able to be part of along with other educational programs relating to science and nature.
- JC Raulston Arboretum- This place is located within the State University Campus and contains over 6,500 plants from different parts of the world. Admission is free for all people and students will be able to take tours that are provided between March to October every year.
- Clemmons Educational Park- This is an educational forest in North Carolina with trails containing educational exhibits relating to both wildlife and nature. Students will be able to spend their leisure time here or learn from the exhibits if they are interested.
Things to do in Raleigh
Though Raleigh is a metropolitan city, it is one of those places which blends the existing green spaces with industrial development. Students will be able to engage themselves in different outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or walking in the different parks, gardens, and trails that the city has. They will also be able to visit the museums, art galleries, etc. during their stay here. A few of the activities one can do while in the city include-
- Go to the Performing Arts Venues- Students will be able to find different theatrical performances, musicals, and plays being hosted at various places in the city. The Theatre in the Park, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, North Carolina Theatre, etc. are all places where different events are held from time to time.
- Visit the Pullen Park - This park spreads across 66 acres and contains different places of entertainment like a miniature train, pedal boats, playgrounds, an amusement center, an aquatic park, etc. that one can visit. Students will also be able to play tennis, basketball, and other sports while they are here.
- Shop at the Triangle Town Center- This is the best shopping location in Raleigh with the center containing eateries and popular brands that one might look for in a mall. It is located in North Raleigh and is a two-level shopping center with stores like Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hudson Belk, etc.