2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in North Carolina
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in North Carolina to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 60 schools in North Carolina to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in North Carolina
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in North Carolina. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,059 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Duke does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 2% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 60 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the large public school awarded 2,899 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NC State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,304 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UNC Chapel Hill does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 77% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. This large public school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 1,712 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UNC Charlotte. In fact, around 82% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent master’s degree programs at East Carolina University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in North Carolina. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,343 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at ECU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a fairly large public school located in Wilmington, North Carolina that handed out 1,137 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UNCW. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
Wake Forest University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,023 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Wake Forest University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. UNC Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 891 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
UNC Greensboro does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Appalachian State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. Appalachian State University is a large public school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 654 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Appalachian State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Western Carolina University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. WCU is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 544 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at WCU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 87% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. UNC Pembroke is a public institution located in Pembroke, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 527 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
UNC Pembroke does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 96% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Pembroke
North Carolina Central University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina ranking. North Carolina Central University is a medium-sized public school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 486 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at North Carolina Central University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 56% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. SEBTS is located in Wake Forest, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 470 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 21% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at SEBTS. In fact, around 59% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Gardner - Webb University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Boiling Springs, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 397 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gardner - Webb does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
North Carolina A & T State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. North Carolina A & T State University is a fairly large public school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 372 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at NC A&T. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Queens University of Charlotte ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 332 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Queens. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lenoir - Rhyne University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 279 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Lenoir - Rhyne University. In 2019-2020 about 42% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #18, Campbell University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Campbell is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 261 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Campbell. In fact, around 4% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Fayetteville State University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 252 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Fayetteville State University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #20, Strayer University - North Carolina did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Strayer University - North Carolina is located in Morrisville, North Carolina and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 240 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Strayer University - North Carolina are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Elon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Elon is located in Elon, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 153 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Wingate University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Wingate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Wingate, North Carolina that handed out 143 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Wingate does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 18% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
High Point University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina list. High Point University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in High Point, North Carolina that handed out 142 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that High Point does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 12% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #24, Pfeiffer University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Misenheimer, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 143 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Pfeiffer University. In fact, around 70% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Winston - Salem State University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the medium-sized public school awarded 105 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
WSSU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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