N.C. A&T’s Online B.S. in Economics Program Achieves High Rankings

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 8, 2021) – Two organizations that rate college degree programs have ranked the online B.S. program in economics from the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on their list of national leaders in online economics programs.

BestColleges placed N.C. A&T at No. 9 in its rankings of the 2021 Best Accredited Online Bachelor’s in Economics Programs, while Learn.org placed A&T at No. 13 in its rankings of Best Online Bachelor’s in Economics Colleges and Universities.

“The Deese College is very proud to be home to a top ranked online program that makes undergraduate economics education available to a broad and diverse audience of learners,” said Kevin L. James, Ph.D., Deese College dean.

A&T is the only North Carolina institution and only historically Black college or university on either list. In fact, it is the only HBCU in the country with a dedicated online B.S. in economics.

“Our program was developed to expand access to students across the state and country who are interested in completing a high-quality online degree program that develops the quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills demanded by employers in today’s economy,” said Scott Simkins, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Economics. “Students in our online program experience the same rigorous academic training as those in our campus-based program.

The Deese College’s online B.S. in economics “features a flexible curriculum that allows students to design a custom economics specialization or pursue a minor in another field. Unique graduation requirements include a course in African American history,” BestColleges said, noting the program’s low cost. “On the university’s career services website, online degree-seekers can research job postings and search for internship opportunities. They can also hone essential interviewing skills through InterviewStream.”

BestColleges used statistical data and a few consistently applied guiding principles, including academic quality, affordability and online competency, to compile its top 10 list. Its rankings reflect the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Data System and College Navigator, both hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Learn. Org offered these highlights of the Deese College’s online B.S. in economics: “Students in the program can choose to focus their studies and prepare for a specific career through elective courses and/or choosing concentrations like marketing, management, and more. The school’s online program boasts diverse faculty members and program coordinators to help students stay on track with their studies.

“The program is also transfer-friendly and provides students with beneficial access to the program coordinator to ensure they have all the help they need to plan their course of study as best fits their goals,” Learn.org said.

Using statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and information from schools’ websites, Learg.org compiled its top 15 list to identify schools that provide students with distinctive learning opportunities – such as concentration areas or student organizations in the field – and rank highly in other academic success indicators – such as graduation rates and affordable tuition prices.

“The rankings are a reflection of the hard work and commitment of faculty in the department to create and implement a high-quality online program that adds value to the university and provides valuable economic mobility opportunities for our students,” said Simkins. “The online economics program at A&T has grown significantly in the two and a half years since it was approved for implementation by the UNC System.”