Rory Moon, Graphics Editor
NC State’s online programs have continued to improve in national rankings according to U.S. News and World Report, with three ranked among the top 10 for 2025, including the online master’s degree in electrical engineering, the online business analytics program for the Jenkins MBA and the online master’s degree in education for veterans.
Other online programs improving in rankings included the master’s degree in information technology, the master’s degree in engineering for veterans and the general Jenkins MBA in the Poole College of Management.
James Kryskowiak, a veteran and 2018 graduate of the online Leadership in the Public Sector program, or also known as LPS, said a key reason for choosing NC State’s online program was its quality and accountability.
“I was like ‘I’ll go to the University of Phoenix,’ and now it felt like I was being herded through,” Kryskowiak said. “The biggest stand out for me is the accountability in the program. And yes, we’re going to help you, but you need to help yourself.”
Valerie Bennett, a veteran and first-year in the Leadership in the Public Sector program, said flexibility was an important factor when choosing the program.
“I think as someone coming into college or starting college again, as an adult learner, it’s very intimidating,” Bennett said. “So I think that level of flexibility, that personability as well [is important].”
Bennett also emphasized the importance of opportunities to connect with other students, both virtually and in-person. The LPS program offers regular events for students to meetup and connect with one another.
Kryskowiak said that his experience with disability initially made online language learning difficult but eventually accommodations helped him succeed in the course.
“I also have some hearing loss and some very bad tinnitus from being in the military. So sometimes online learning is pretty difficult,” Kryskowiak said. “They realized that I wasn’t just failing, that I had a medical or health reason why. And they then walked me through the process, and they’re like, ‘Here, look, you have this,’ and showed me how to accomplish the goal at the time, which was passing that language credit.”
Kryskowiak said obtaining veterans’ benefits for education, such as the GI Bill, was initially difficult for online programs when he enrolled. However for Bennett, the process has become substantially easier in recent years.
Bennett and Kryskowiak agreed that the support they’ve received from the university has been important to their success in online programs. Bennett highlighted the help she received from LaShica Waters, the academic advisor for the LPS program.
“In the beginning, for me, I didn’t really notice a lot, just because that’s one of the disadvantages of being online,” Kryskowiak said. “But over time, them helping me because of my disability, that’s the support they showed.”
“I’ve had a few conversations with Nick Drake in the student affairs office, even prior to that application process. So he was very helpful, very insightful, his whole team was,” Bennett said. “Any questions I had in regards to my GI Bill, they’d be more than happy to help out.”
Kryskowiak said the support he received encouraged him to volunteer with the university to support and talk to veterans and become involved in the Veterans Alumni Network. Volunteering can include helping students access the GI Bill or assisting with disability benefits, Kryskowiak said. He also encouraged donations to support the LPS program.
Donald Warsing, the MBA faculty director, said the faculty-led programs set NC State online programs apart from other universities. At many universities, online programs are often handled by a third party and are more asynchronous.
“I think that’s something we’ve always prided ourselves on, that our faculty are very hands on,” Warsing said. “I think that’s just part of the ethos of the university, right? Think and Do.”
Warsing said online programs in the college often offer opportunities for in-person connection, such as the PACKed Saturdays program, enabling students to come to campus once a month from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for in-person instruction. A significant population of online students live within 50 miles of campus, allowing many to attend once a month. Warsing said that there are numerous events giving students the opportunity to network.
Warsing said the online program also has a residency component, allowing students to engage with their peers and faculty.
“Students are required to come to campus for a three day intensive period that’s connected to a course that has online programs that precede it, and some online and project content that follows those three days on campus, but all students are required to take two of those courses that have that residency component,” Warsing said. “I think throughout the program, we do a really good job of impressing upon students that they’re part of the MBA community.”
Career outcomes for the online program include an average of a 38% increase in salary for individuals who changed jobs or received a promotion. Over 75% of these graduates experienced a career change during the MBA program.
Bennett said while the school overall does a good job of supporting veterans, she would like to see more outreach to the veteran community.
“I wish that there would be more of an outreach so I would’ve learned about the program sooner,” Bennett said. “There’s even transitioning programs for folks that are transitioning from the military to civilian life, like the Honor Foundation that works specifically with the Marine Special Operations community.”
Warsing said overall the MBA program has historically worked to support veterans and educate them on the services available to them, while also working with third parties to reach out to veterans for admissions.
Bennett and Kryskowiak said the flexibility of the online program gave them the opportunity to further their education.
“I wouldn’t have had my degree if it wasn’t for this program,” Kryskowiak said.