2024 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina

Winston-Salem's Wake Forest University (WFU) is a private, nonprofit institution with online graduate degrees at the master's and doctoral levels. Notable master’s degrees include business administration, health informatics, healthcare leadership, and project management. Programs may also offer concentrations. Doctoral candidates have two distance learning options in the fields of nursing and ministry.

Why we like them: WFU demonstrates a commitment to the success and well-being of its online students, providing personalized support and guidance throughout their academic journey. For example, WFU assigns each distance learner a Student Success Manager to support them throughout their education. Student Success Managers help individuals complete the admissions and onboarding processes, help students with career development, and track and analyze educational progress.

Wingate University (Wingate) has online degrees you can pursue to help you achieve your career goals. The school has more than 60 degree pathways you can choose from. Some of the undergraduate and graduate majors offered in Wingate’s extensive catalog include accounting, marketing, and sports management.

Why we like them: The university offers three online adult bachelor’s degree programs. These programs are designed for working adults looking for flexibility and convenience while completing their education. You can choose a degree in human services, organizational communication & management, and educational studies. You can take two courses each semester to complete your degree quickly. We know it can be challenging to pursue a college education while juggling a job and family responsibilities, so we like that Wingate offers these unique degrees.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a competitive public school featuring online graduate degrees. Master’s degree fields of study are primarily in health, including pharmacy, public health, nursing, health informatics, and allied health fields. Other online majors include business, government, data science, and information and library science. The school has three doctoral options for health administrators or nurses: an executive doctoral program in health leadership, a BSN to DNP, and an MSN to DNP.

Why we like them: UNC’s remote programs come in three tracks to provide scheduling flexibility to working adult learners. Instructional designers created the full-time fast track to take students a year to complete, the standard track to take a year and a half, and the part-time track to take 2-4 years. This flexibility in scheduling benefits working adult learners by accommodating their diverse needs and commitments, allowing them to choose a track that aligns with their individual circumstances, whether they prefer an accelerated pace to complete their degree swiftly, a standard track for a balanced workload, or a part-time option to accommodate other responsibilities alongside their studies.

Campbell University (CU) is a Christian institution with an array of fully online degrees, including 18 bachelor's programs and three master's programs. Among the school’s options are bachelor's degrees in psychology, Christian studies, elementary education, and accounting. All undergraduate students must take a two-part course sequence called Connections that covers CU’s Baptist values and community. However, enrollees aren’t required to adhere to a particular Christian denomination.

Why we like them: CU faculty often have a mix of on-campus and online teaching experience that can help inform their approach to distance learning. On average, CU professors have been with the university 5-10 years and have at least some in-person teaching experience. Online applicants don’t need to be concerned that they’re getting stuck with novice faculty for their programs.

North Carolina State University (NC State) offers online graduate degrees along with bachelor's degree completion programs. Fields of study include design, education, engineering, management, and humanities and social sciences. Notable master's degrees include accounting, aerospace engineering, clinical mental health counseling, and business administration.

Why we like them: The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education considers NC State a top research university for offering doctoral degrees and for having very high research activity among faculty and students. This designation signifies that NC State is highly regarded for the significant level of research activity among its faculty and students. For online students, this indicates that they have access to resources, faculty expertise, and research opportunities that are on par with those available to traditional on-campus students, ensuring a high-quality educational experience. Scientific research opportunities may be available to interested online students looking to gain valuable experience in competitive fields.

Pfieffer University (PU), a historically Methodist institution, features online degrees for both undergraduate and graduate students. All of PU’s online bachelor’s options are degree completion programs for students with an associate degree. These three possibilities are in criminal justice, education, and nursing. Some notable master's degrees are in business administration, health administration, and teaching.

Why we like them: PU awards a generous amount of financial aid to its students to supplement federal programs. The more institutional aid the university gives, the less debt its students will accrue, which can have a tremendous positive effect on their finances in the future. By supplementing federal programs with institutional aid, PU demonstrates a dedication to supporting its students financially, regardless of their socioeconomic background. This can help lessen the financial burden on students and their families, making it possible for more individuals to pursue a college education without facing excessive debt.

Queens University of Charlotte (Queens) provides online degrees at the master's level with adult learners and working professionals in mind. Some of the available programs are in nursing, global business management, health administration, and educational leadership. Queens also has a range of graduate certificates in areas such as cybersecurity management and finance.

Why we like them: The university has a favorable 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. In addition, the average class size is 15 and 94% of classes contain fewer than 20 students. These things can help foster communication and engagement between students and instructors because faculty can devote more time to each individual enrollee. This interactive dynamic not only enhances students' comprehension and retention of course material but also encourages the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Gardner-Webb University (GWU) is a Southern Baptist school providing a broad range of online degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. All distance learning bachelor’s degrees are completion programs for students who have at least 24 semester hours of college education. Potential majors include criminal justice, cybersecurity, healthcare management, and nursing. To graduate, all GWU undergraduates must attend ten religious events per semester for at least four semesters, which usually take the form of lectures.

Why we like them: GWU has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a fairly small average class size of 17. These numbers favor both students because they have the potential to receive more personalized attention from faculty, who are less overwhelmed with assessing too many students. The university also recently switched to eight-week online terms, which may help save learners time and money because they can take more classes in less time.

East Carolina University (ECU) offers a robust selection of online degrees in areas such as business, education, healthcare, and technology. The university’s online bachelor’s degrees are all degree completion programs intended for students transferring credits from an associate degree. Several majors have a range of specialized concentrations to choose from, such as the programs in business administration, industrial technology, and education. ECU also hosts a large variety of online master’s degrees.

Why we like them: ECU is fairly diverse, with about a third each of the undergraduate and graduate student bodies reporting underrepresented ethnic or racial backgrounds. In addition, about 60% of students are female. Students from underrepresented groups tend to feel more comfortable and succeed better in educational environments where they’re better represented. This diversity also enriches classroom discussions, perspectives, and experiences, enhancing the overall educational experience for all students.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) offers online degrees at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as bachelor's completion programs. In all, 30% of UNC Charlotte’s graduate students take distance learning classes exclusively. Available master’s programs include community and public health nursing, engineering management, business administration, social work, and special education.

Why we like them: UNC Charlotte has a number of innovative online certificate and professional credit programs. These include courses on using AI for digital marketing and HR certification exam prep, alongside professional certificate programs in a range of fields.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) offering a limited selection of online degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Notable bachelor’s degrees have majors in nursing, clinical laboratory science, and early childhood education. Master’s students might be interested in healthcare administration, rehabilitation counseling, or advanced nurse educator programs.

Why we like them: WSSU caters to a historically underrepresented group of college and graduate students because the large majority of students identify as Black and female. This holds true in every category — from undergraduate on-campus learners to remote graduate students. Students are more likely to feel engaged and supported if they can learn alongside at least some people from similar backgrounds.

If you’re looking for flexibility in your education, consider attending one of the online programs at Lenoir-Rhyne University (Lenoir-Rhyne). While the university doesn’t offer online undergraduate programs, you can pursue one of their 15 online graduate programs. The university has online graduate programs in creative writing, exercise science, and theological studies. Because Lenoir-Rhyne is affiliated with Christianity, you can expect to learn from a faith-based curriculum.

Why we like them: Although you’ll complete coursework in a virtual environment, you’ll still get personalized attention from your instructors. Lenoir-Rhyne connects you to experienced, reputable instructors that you can develop a deeper connection with and receive mentoring that can help you navigate your future career. We believe that relationships are necessary in virtual learning environments, so we appreciate that the university strives to connect students with instructors.

Earning a degree at Lees-McRae College (Lees-McRae) may increase your earning potential for your career or allow you to transition into other professions successfully. The college offers four two-year degrees in majors like business administration, criminal justice, elementary education, and human services. Lees-McRae also has rolling start dates, so you can start your program at whatever time works best for you.

Why we like them: The college offers one of the lowest online tuition rates in the region at $375 per credit hour. In addition, many online students are eligible for financial aid, such as price reductions, scholarships, and discounts. We believe that Lees-McRae can be an affordable option if you’re looking for online education that won’t break the bank.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) helps make graduate school convenient and flexible by offering a range of online master’s degrees. Each degree falls into one of three general disciplines: business, communication, and healthcare and nursing. For example, master’s students might choose an MBA with 12 optional concentrations or a degree in healthcare administration. The only bachelor’s degree is an RN-to-BSN for nurses who already have some education and credentials.

Why we like them: UNCW has a nuanced approach to freedom of expression that emphasizes respect and prohibits hate speech, as enshrined in the school’s Seahawk Respect Compact. And though it’s not especially diverse racially, UNCW enrollees are nearly twice as likely to be female. Some women may feel more comfortable in such a well-represented environment.

Students can enroll in one of Western Carolina University’s (WCU) online degree programs. WCU’s online bachelor’s degrees cover a range of in-demand fields, such as business administration and law, emergency and disaster management, emergency medical care, marketing, and nursing. Online master’s students might choose to study nurse leadership, project management, or health sciences, among others.

Why we like them: WCU faculty take an individualized approach to distance learning. Professors design some courses to have self-paced instruction while others have specific completion dates for online assignments. There is also a mix of asynchronous and synchronous elements in some programs, so students may combine the convenience of online learning with occasional opportunities for live discussion.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) offers accessibility and flexibility to students through online bachelor’s degrees in programs such as finance, hospitality and tourism management, public health, nursing (RN to BSN), and philosophy. Graduate students have an even wider choice of programs in subjects such as applied economics, library and information science, special education, and speech-language pathology.

Why we like them: UNCG is one of the most diverse public colleges in the Tar Heel State. More than half of its enrollees come from underrepresented backgrounds, including more than a quarter who identify as Black and the largest population of Latinx students in the state. In addition, the university is committed to sustainable environmental practices that its Office of Sustainability coordinates.

A public school, North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT) provides more than 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees through distance education. Each undergraduate option is a Bachelor of Science degree, with majors ranging from agricultural education and economics to information technology and environmental health and safety. Some of NCAT’s online graduate programs are master’s degrees in cybersecurity, electrical engineering, and teaching.

Why we like them: NCAT seems to care about the needs of veterans and students in the military. For example, the university works with several programs and institutions that help with tuition assistance and job searching for this population. And active-duty service members and dependents pay the in-state tuition rate for online education regardless of their state or country of residency. This policy compassionately acknowledges the at-will nature of redeployment.

The University of Mount Olive (UMO) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Baptist church. Students at UMO can earn associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees online. Among the school's more popular programs are the bachelor's in criminal justice, agribusiness, education, and nursing. Master’s students can choose from degrees in education, clinical mental health counseling, and business administration.

Why we like them: UMO distributes a large amount of institutional financial aid each year. This can include the Leaders, Merit, or Presidential Scholarships that offer increasingly more aid to students based on how high their high school or college transfer GPAs were. Individual departments also offer aid. Students can combine these awards with government aid to lower their total cost of college attendance.

Appalachian State University (App State) offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees alongside online certificate programs. Popular fields of study include business administration, nursing, veterinary technology, social work, and education at every level from early childhood to higher ed. The one choice for doctoral students is a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.

Why we like them: App State has strong numbers for undergraduate retention and graduation. The university retains 85% of students between their first and second years, which is 10% higher than the national average. In addition, App State’s 73% six-year graduation rate is 12% higher than the national average. These figures suggest that students find the support they need through student services and that they see value in continuing their education at this school.

If you’re a working professional seeking an undergraduate degree, consider applying for one of William Peace University’s (WPU) nine online degree programs. These accelerated online bachelor’s degree programs allow you to to quickly move through classes to graduate faster. Some of the online majors you can pursue at WPU include a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Why we like them: Besides online bachelor’s degree programs, WPU offers online non-degree education licensure programs. These programs are for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking to become a North Carolina teacher. Some online licenses include Adapted Curriculum Licensure, Elementary Residency Licensure, and Special Education Adapted Curriculum Residency Licensure. This may be a great opportunity to improve your skills if you're a teacher.

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is a public institution with 14 online undergraduate degrees and 16 online master’s degrees. Distance learning bachelor's degrees include teacher education, nursing, psychology, and criminal justice programs. Graduate students can study subjects such as mathematics, kinesiology and recreation administration, school counseling, and information science remotely.

Why we like them: NCCU is one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and keeps this tradition alive through programs designed to help Black college students. These programs include the African American Males Initiative aimed at increasing retention in this community. Another initiative is the Future Law Students Pipeline Program that introduces interested Black learners to lawyers and professors during in-person workshops in the summer.

Fayetteville State University (FSU) offers a range of online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. FSU students with existing college credits can enroll in online bachelor’s programs with majors such as accounting, fire and emergency services administration, intelligence studies, math, nursing, and psychology. Remote master’s degrees include programs in sociology, business administration, and criminal justice.

Why we like them: FSU supports the large percentage of its students who take exclusively online courses. To start, the Office of Online Education encourages prospective online students to review modules about what online learning entails before applying. Once enrolled, FSU provides a remote student orientation. The university is also incredibly diverse, with 80% of students belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) features a number of online graduate degree programs. Students who want to study online can earn a master’s degree in two main fields: business or education. The Master of Business Administration has a choice of specializations such as finance and business analytics. Education students can choose from master’s degrees in teaching, elementary education, or school administration.

Why we like them: UNCP is concerned with helping working adults advance their careers. They focus on degree programs that can be useful in today’s job market, such as the historically valuable MBA with additional concentrations in high-growth areas like healthcare administration and supply chain management. Each program is also on an accelerated track so professionals can start at convenient times during the year and complete courses faster.