Skip to main content
College of Engineering
Operations Research Graduate Program
A student living in Raleigh sits on the grass with her dog beside her, enjoying a sunny day outdoors with many other students.

Living in Raleigh

Year after year, living in Raleigh and the RTP ranks among the five best places in the U.S. for young professionals to live, learn and work.

Last Updated: 08/05/2025 | All information is accurate and still up-to-date

Living in Raleigh, NC, consistently ranks as one of the top five places to live and work in the country. Furthermore, the city enjoys moderate weather with an average temperature of 71°F. Additionally, you’re only two hours from the beach and three hours from the mountains. Raleigh welcomes families and individuals, offering a well-educated workforce and a diverse, multicultural environment. As a result, this vibrant city provides a high quality of life and many opportunities for everyone. Consequently, many people find living in Raleigh the ideal way to settle down and thrive.

  • #6 Best Place to Live in the US (US News & World Report, 2024-2025)
  • #13 Top 25 America’s Best Cities Best Cities, 2024)
  • #11 Best Place to Live in the US for Young Professionals (U.S. News, 2023-2024)
  • Best Cities to Move to After College (USA Today, 2024)
The cover of the NC State Off-Campus Housing Resource Guide.

NC State’s Talley Student Union is filled with vibrant art, natural light, and comfortable furniture. It offers incredible views and a place to experience our strong campus community.

But wait, there’s more! A sense of community often grows over a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream. Many dining venues double as lounges, providing flexible study spaces during off-peak hours. You can relax in fireplace lounges, individual lounges, or group lounges overlooking the Thomas H. Stafford, Jr. Commons. You will find a space to fit almost any need.

Learning and Working in Raleigh

NC State University anchors the Research Triangle Park (RTP), one of the largest and most successful high-tech research parks in the country. RTP is home to many leading Fortune 500 companies. Many top research and technology institutions are just minutes from the university. This creates a collaborative environment for business and innovation at NC State.

Higher education is the cornerstone of RTP. The area’s colleges and universities have over 100,000 students. Each year, these institutions award more than 20,000 degrees. These graduates significantly contribute to the region’s high-performance workforce.

So, when selecting a place to get your degree, you can have it all. Raleigh and RTP are great places to live, learn, and work.

Living in Raleigh allows you means watching several musicians performing on stage at an outdoor concert on NC State's campus, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd enjoying the event.

NC State’s Colleges of Engineering, Sciences and Management

It’s an exciting time for a career in operations research! Our colleges know how to prepare you for these careers.

Our faculty’s success and your achievements show our commitment to excellence. Faculty members receive many professional awards each year for teaching and technological achievements. Our graduates find top-notch careers in research, design, production and management.

OR is housed in Fitts-Woolard Hall, the College of Engineering’s newest building. This building brought the College together on Centennial Campus through a special partnership. With half of the $150 million funding coming from North Carolina voters and the rest from private donations.