North Carolina A&T: The Top Ranked Public HBCU In The Nation

Last Updated on May 30, 2018

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the No. 1 public historically black university in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2016 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 9.

The multiplatform news provider ranked N.C. A&T No. 9 out of 72 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), up one spot from the previous year. A&T last ranked as the top public HBCU in 2014. To qualify for ranking, a college or university must be designated an HBCU by the Department of Education and be a baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students. The college or university had to have also taken part in the 2016 Best Colleges survey and ranking process.

“For 125 years, N.C. A&T has maintained a rich tradition in academics, research, discovery and outreach. It gives us great pride to be recognized as the No. 1 public HBCU in the nation and ranked among the top 10 of the nation’s outstanding historically black institutions,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.

“As we pause to celebrate this university’s dynamic resilience from humble beginnings, there is still much work to be done as outlined in our strategic plan, A&T Preeminence 2020.”

For this ranking, U.S. News & World Report compared HBCUs using the key measures of graduation and retention rates; peer assessment; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving to calculate each college or university’s rank.

The university was also ranked among the top half of the magazine’s Best Online Degree Programs for undergraduate degrees, in the second tier of Best National Universities and among the top of the nation’s Best Undergraduate Business Programs, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs as well as the graduate industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering, mechanical engineering and rehabilitation counseling programs.

Established in 1891, A&T is a land-grant doctoral research university dedicated to learning, discovery, and community engagement. This is the fourth consecutive year the university has been ranked as the top HBCU in North Carolina.

Source: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University