Online Schools & Colleges
in North Carolina

Tucked in the mountains of North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides a unique, holistic education that not all public schools can offer. All online undergraduate degree programs are intended for transfer students who are working toward a specific career. With that in mind, students can complete their education in 2 years while studying at their own pace. Students transferring into this program should have already completed their lower division credits at another institution. There are currently 7 entirely online bachelor's degree programs, as well as the hybrid bachelor's degree in middle grades education. Appalachian State also offers master's degree programs both online and in hybrid format, as well as graduate certificates. Every program at each level is taught with one goal in mind: to advance the student's career.

Often recognized as one of the most prestigious schools in the nation, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a leader in many fields, including online education. The majority of online students at UNC are graduates, and most are involved in public health or health sciences. Public health makes up the largest part of the online graduate program with 3 master's degrees, 1 doctoral degree and 6 certificates. UNC is seen as a global leader in health sciences, and the same respect given to their on-campus programs is extended to their online programs. UNC doesn't have any entirely online undergraduate programs, but they offer many undergraduate courses online. All required core courses can be completed online for active military and veterans, so those students can feasibly study toward a hybrid degree or complete their degree in less time than the traditional 4 years. There are also a variety of continuing education courses available online.

Among the top research schools in the nation, North Carolina State University has attracted world-class staff and faculty, improving the quality of education. For students considering online school at NC State, it may help to know that the same faculty teaches both on-campus and online. Aside from their faculty, NC State is among the best in online studies because of their vast number of options. There are currently 5 undergraduate programs offered at least partially online, as well as five undergraduate certificates that can be used to further specialize a degree. After earning a bachelor's degree, students can find master's and doctoral programs online, as well as certificates and licensure for teaching. Despite being online, their distance education still receives a lot of national attention and research funding, making it an excellent stepping stone for students looking to advance in their career or switch careers entirely.

Founded in 1995, Apex School of Theology is one of the younger institutions in the nation. Despite their short time teaching higher education, Apex has already established itself as a top Christian school with a focus on African-American culture. There are only 7 main programs offered at Apex ? 1 bachelor's degree, 4 master's degrees, 1 doctoral degree and 1 associate degree ? aside from their continuing education programs. However, students won't need to travel to campus to get any of their studies done. Apex offers all of their degree programs entirely online with each course mirroring the same quality and difficulty as their on-campus versions. Online courses are also offered in the traditional 16 week format or an abbreviated 8-week session. Regardless of where students live, Apex charges a flat rate per class, with different fees being applied to the different degree levels. This structure is meant to help keep the cost of an education low, since the programs are designed for working students.

Western Carolina University began as a teaching school but quickly grew into much more. While teaching is still one of the most popular subjects for students to study at WCU, other programs, such as nursing and engineering, have started to attract more national attention. Perhaps the most renowned program at WCU is entrepreneurship, which can be studied as a minor, bachelor's of science or bachelor's of science in business administration. This 4-year program is available both on-campus and entirely online, or as a hybrid. A master's degree in entrepreneurship is also offered entirely online through a quick 30-semester hour program. Entrepreneurship isn't the only program offered entirely online, though, as students can pick from 18 different programs, ranging from certificates to master's degrees. The program that students do end up picking will determine their tuition per credit, so students with previous credit can reduce the time and cost of their program.

Joining the UNC system nearly 50 years ago, the University of North Carolina Wilmington may not be the oldest or most storied institution in North Carolina, but they have gained national attention. Their dedication to student experience and innovation is noticeable not just with the growth of the school, but also with the growth of their online program. Online undergraduate degrees as UNC Wilmington are similar to those found at other schools, save a few of their majors. For example, their bachelor's in exercise science is a unique program both for its academics and format. Students that pursue this online degree with take courses in 6 sessions throughout the year, and courses last 7 weeks at a time. All of their bachelor's degrees can be completed entirely online, except for clinical experience (if required). UNC Wilmington also has an array of master's degrees and one doctoral degree in nursing practice.

Founded over 100 years ago as a teacher training school, East Carolina University is now one of the largest schools in North Carolina. While the school has experienced significant growth over the years, they've managed to maintain the same level of quality across all their programs ? including those offered online. ECU's online school has over 50 degree choices, many more than most online schools across the nation. For students that are interested in earning a bachelor's degree, it's important to know that all their online bachelor's programs are degree completion. Transfer students and students that are switching to online education should have little to no problem getting their credits to go toward their new degree at ECU. ECU recommends that all transfer students enter with at least the first 2 years of their college education completed, or with a compatible associate degree. Also, a few programs require some campus attendance.

There is plenty to know about North Carolina Central University aside from the fact that they were the first public liberal arts school for African Americans. Since 1909, NCCU has been working to find new ways to reach students, which led to the creation of their online school. What makes NCCU online unique is that they offer 2 of their 3 most popular undergraduate degrees entirely online: a bachelor's in criminal justice and a bachelor's in psychology. Both of these online programs carry the same amount of respect as a traditional bachelor's from NCCU would. NCCU's commitment to making their online program one of the best in the state extends beyond academics. Students that earn a degree online will have access to special networking and job opportunities, helping them find a new career upon graduating. These programs are designed with working students in mind, so even busy students can find a way to make their online degrees work.

Located in one of the busiest cities in the state, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte was founded after WWII specifically to be a research institution. While UNC Charlotte is still recognized for their research, they've since expanded into other areas, one of the most recent being distance education. UNC Charlotte's online program is into 4 colleges: education, engineering, liberal arts & sciences and health & human services. Each of these colleges has multiple undergraduate and graduate degree options, some of which are 4-year programs that can be completed entirely online. Some of the specific programs may also require in-person experience; for example, to become a certified teacher in North Carolina, students in the online school of education will still be required to gain licensure through clinical experience. Anyone worried about the quality of UNC Charlotte's online school should know that all online courses are taught by the same professors that teach on campus.

Formerly known as Grace Leadership Institute, Grace College of Divinity is a Christian school that offers education down 1 of 4 tracks: leadership, worship, ministry and family life. Following that, there are only 4 undergraduate options available at GCD, each of which follows at least one of those tracks. These bachelor's degrees are designed to be studied in a hybrid format of online and on-campus, but students can spend a majority ? if not all ? of their studies online if they structure their schedule correctly. Online courses also have students engage in online discussion boards, keeping everyone within the GCD community. GCD does require some in-person experience, and the required experience varies depending on the degree ? so, strictly speaking, not all of the undergraduate degrees can be completed entirely online. That being said, each program is structured for students that are currently working, so there is flexibility regardless of how they study.