N.C. A&T Named a Top 20 Campus in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Online Graduate Degrees’

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 26, 2022) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s graduate degree in information technology (IT) was named a top 20 online master’s program nationally by U.S. News and World Report.

Perhaps the most trusted resource for college and university rankings, U.S. News ranked North Carolina A&T in a tie with four other universities at No. 19 among all campuses in the media organization’s ranking of online master’s programs in IT, up from No. 27 in the previous year’s rankings. A&T is the top-ranked North Carolina university and the only historically Black college or university in the top 20 in this category.

The top 20 national ranking is part of U.S. News’ annual assessment of online graduate programs, which was released yesterday. For A&T, they underscore the university’s ascent in rankings overall and its ongoing development as a doctoral research university. Top graduate programs are essential to research universities’ success.

“Our economy is increasingly reliant on data and technology, and the demand for professionals in cloud computing, analytics and network security has increased as well,” said Abdellah Ahmidouch, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science and Technology. “N.C. A&T makes graduate STEM education accessible and continues to meet demand by giving our students the in-depth expertise and hands-on experience they need to be the 21st century STEM leaders.”

Students pursuing the M.S. in IT have five concentrations to choose from: computer networking and communications, computer security, web technologies, digital media technologies and database management.

“Our online infrastructure and experienced faculty make it possible for our students to continue to excel in a top online graduate program,” said Qingan Zeng, master’s IT program coordinator. “Students are able to get hands-on experience with our corporate partners while at the university, which gives our students an edge when entering the job market.”

In a five-way tie, A&T was ranked alongside the University of Central Florida in Orlando; the University of Arkansas-Little Rock; Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan; and, Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.