RALEIGH, North Carolina—NC State’s College of Education is ranked #18 in the nation in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs rankings announced Jan. 27, 2026. That is up from two spots over last year and an improvement of 28 spots since 2022.
The college also had two programs ranked in speciality categories:
“This ranking is particularly meaningful to our college because it reflects our vision to expand access and success for all learners, including master’s students, regardless of where they live and responsibilities they may be juggling,” said College of Education Dean Paola Sztajn. “It also reflects the growing recognition of the incredible impact our faculty, staff, students and alumni make every day and the strong reputation they have built as extraordinary educators, leaders, counselors and professionals who change lives for the better.”
This year, U.S. News ranked 323 schools across the nation that offer online master’s degrees based on five categories: engagement, faculty credentials and training, services and technology, student excellence, and peer assessment. Among these ranking indicators, the College of Education saw increases in its student excellence and peer assessment scores. In those categories, the college placed #6 in student excellence and #10 in peer assessment nationally.
The College of Education also ranked #1 in North Carolina and #10 in the nation for online education programs for veterans. The veteran rankings are based on accessibility to internet-based coursework, affordability, number of students with military backgrounds and factors related to academic quality, such as faculty credentials and retention rates.