East Carolina University’s College of Nursing is the #1 online master’s degree program for public universities in North Carolina and is in the top 10 nationwide in a new ranking by US News and World Report.
In addition to nursing, ECU’s online master’s programs in criminal justice, education and MBA were ranked among the best in the nation in US News’ 2025 Best Online Programs.
“For the first time in the College of Nursing’s 65-year history, our master’s program is ranked in the top 10 in the country, earning us the title of the No. 1 master’s degree at a state institution in North Carolina. great honor that we do not take lightly,” said Dr. Bim Akintade, Dean of the College of Nursing. “These honors are a direct result of years of work by our faculty and staff to ensure the education and preparation of the best nurses in the country.”
ECU is number 10 in the country, moving up four places from last year. It is in the top 6% of 198 programs evaluated by US News for the following factors: student excellence (10%); faculty credentials and training (20%); student services and technology (20%); engagement (30%); and peer evaluation (20%).
“For years, graduates of our master’s programs have seen a 100% first-time pass rate on their post-graduation certification exams,” Akintade said. “These rankings are just further proof that the College of Nursing is the premier institution of nursing education in North Carolina.”
Graduate students from the College of Nursing practice clinical skills during an intensive on-campus experience. (Contributed photo)
ECU’s online master’s in nursing administration and leadership was ranked 12th, and the online master’s in nursing education was ranked 7th. These rankings are based on peer review.
The ECU College of Nursing was ranked sixth in the nation for Best Online Master of Nursing Programs for Veterans. Institutions that rank in the top 50% of the best online master’s in nursing programs are eligible to be ranked for the best online program for veterans. Universities must enroll at least 10 active duty or veteran students, be GI Bill certified and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program or pay in-state tuition for out-of-state veterans to be listed.
ECU’s online master’s in education program was number 54 out of 313 institutions ranked. ECU moved up nine spots from 2024, placing it in the top 20% of programs nationwide.
“Our improved ranking in US News & World Report is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to provide courses and an educational experience that foster student success,” said Dr. André Green, Dean of the College. of Education.
“Being recognized among the top 20% of online master’s in education programs nationwide reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and the achievement of our students. Moving forward, we remain committed to further elevating our program to ensure it continues to meet the high standards that our North Carolina students deserve,” Green said.
ECU’s online criminal justice program is the #1 online master’s degree program for public universities in North Carolina. It was ranked 27th out of 96, placing it in the top 30%. No other public institution in the state was ranked.
“We are honored to once again be recognized as a leading program in online graduate education for criminal justice, maintaining our top ranking in North Carolina and continuing to stand out nationally,” said Dr. Heidi Bonner, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.
“Our faculty, who are accomplished scholars and practitioners, are deeply committed to providing a flexible and rigorous educational experience tailored to adult learners with demanding schedules,” Bonner said. “This recognition is a testament to their dedication and the success of our students. We are very proud of our mission to meet the evolving needs of all learners, including working professionals.”
ECU’s online MBA program in the Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business in the College of Business was number 150 out of 355 institutions, placing it in the top 45% of programs in the country. It was also named a top online MBA program for veterans.
US News’ evaluated online programs at 1,790 colleges and universities to determine its rankings.
Factors such as faculty credentials and training, services and technology available to students, student engagement, and expert opinions on the academic quality of programs inform the rankings. Other considerations are student excellence through undergraduate grades, acceptance rates and work experience, according to the US News website.
(Ben Abel, Kristen Martin and ECU Institutional Planning Evaluation and Research office contributed to this story).