NC State Online and Distance Education

Internationally respected credentials from one of the top universities in the world…
with schedule flexibility, wherever you are.

Programs of Study

Undergraduate Degrees

Graduate students work in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Loboa

Master's Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

NC State Textiles student works on design project

Undergraduate Certificates

food safety professors checking stats on a lap-top

Graduate Certificates

Dr. Gail Jones shows College of Education students how to work with hands-on materials.

Teacher Licensure

The Power of a World-Class Research Enterprise Delivered to You

NC State’s purpose is to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We’re a pre-eminent research enterprise that excels in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, design, humanities and social sciences, agriculture, education and textiles among others.

We offer our world-class education, taught by renowned professors, to online and distance students who need an education with the flexibility to fit into their busy lives. Just like our on-campus programs, online and distance education classes engage students in solving real-world problems that pertain to their areas of interest. Students graduate ready to lead the workforce, confident in the knowledge that NC State consistently ranks as one of the best values in higher education.

Education With a Flexible Schedule

Our programs offer schedule flexibility so you can integrate them with your current life responsibilities. Most programs allow you to do the coursework at times that work best for you within the program’s start and completion dates. More about our program formats

Let Us Be Your Guide

As you search for the program that’s right for you, we know you’ll have questions. Our advisors are here to help. They can answer questions and ensure that you complete all the steps to applying successfully. More about student support

Best Value in Higher Education

NC State is ranked number one among North Carolina universities for the value of its education. Our online programs in graduate education rank 4th in the nation and many of our programs are ranked in the top 30 in their fields. More about cost

Gaining Credentials

Courtney Hart — Leadership in the Public Sector

The LPS program is great for nontraditional students that have a career and a family. The online format is very flexible. The program gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dream to earn my degree and provided me the skills, tools and courage to be a leader in all aspects of my life.

Targeting Results

Brian Register — Online MBA

I work long hours, and often weekends, so a traditional MBA program wouldn’t work with my schedule. I needed the flexibility that an online program offered. And NC State offered the best value when compared with other top online MBA programs.

Immersive Curriculum

Samantha McCuen — Training and Development

As a full-time working mom, I couldn’t have asked for a better learning environment that truly provided a meaningful, relevant experience. I would encourage anyone who is seeking personal or professional growth to absolutely explore distance learning and the TTET Online Programs.

Knowledge Certified

Scott Honda — GIST Online Certificate

The best part of taking the certificate program online is that it is flexible enough to fit my sometimes hectic work schedule. I reviewed many online GIS programs (for the better part of a year) and found NC State's GIS program to be an excellent balance of classes.

Get Started

NC State’s online and distance education programs strive to be flexible and continually responsive to a changing world. We constantly evaluate the relevance of our programs for online and distance students. We look ahead to new technologies in course delivery, class scheduling and communication technology to make our courses as interactive as possible.

Course Technology

WolfWare Advantage

WolfWare is NC State’s online education toolkit and is comprised of several systems and tools in one cohesive environment. Students use WolfWare as their gateway to courses; past, present and future.

News and Announcements All Announcements

Education, Computer IT Move Up in Online Rankings

U.S. News delivers good news for two of NC State's graduate programs in this year's ranking of the nation's top online degrees. Programs for veterans in business, education and engineering also score honors.

College of Education Ranked No. 30 for Best Online Graduate Programs

NC State’s College of Education was tied at No. 30 in the nation in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master's in Education Programs rankings. Nationally, the college also ranked No. 9 for veterans, and in specialty categories, No. 15 in Educational Administration and Supervision and No. 19 in Curriculum and Instruction.

Flexibility: One Reason Charles Harding Chose NC State Online

Charles Harding, a December 2022 graduate, chose NC State Online to achieve a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics and Data Management. The program provided the flexibility Harding needed to balance his career goals and his life responsibilities.

Online MBA Report Ranks NC State in the Top 5% of MBA Programs

The Online MBA Report ranked the Jenkins MBA program No. 2 in the state of North Carolina and No. 17 nationwide, among the top 5% of programs considered.