N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension agent Leroy R. Johnson, left, presides over a “Ham and Eggs Show,” around 1953. Thanks to Johnson’s efforts, many African American farm families in Johnston County enhanced their incomes by learning how to raise poultry and hogs and to cure quality country ham. Cathy Gant Hill
 
North Carolina A&T Ranks Second Among N.C. Public Universities in Early Career Earnings
GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 18, 2017) – New rankings from MONEY Magazine hold good news for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University: not only is A&T ranked the state’s second best public university in early career earnings for its graduates, it ranks in the top 10 of the nation’s “50 Best Colleges for African Americans.”

Money reconfigured its annual rankings this year, trading its previous “Best Value Colleges” system for a new “Best Colleges for Your Money” analysis, which the magazine describes as “uniquely practical.” It took into account graduation rates, institutional financial health and other quality factors to identify the 711 campuses that made the Best College for Your Money list.

Among the findings in the new analysis:
•In early career earnings, North Carolina A&T alumni bring home an average annual salary of $50,600. They trail only alumni from North Carolina State University among public campuses in this state.
•The 50 Best Colleges for African Americans includes Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Duke, alongside North Carolina A&T in the top 10. Other historically black colleges and universities (HCBU) Florida A&M and Spelman College join A&T in that select grouping.  A&T and Duke are the only North Carolina campuses in the Top 10.

Earlier this summer, N.C. A&T was ranked the top HBCU in the nation for both students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines and in online education programs.

The quality markers are translating into strong and growing interest in A&T, which is already America’s largest HBCU: This fall, the university expects to enroll the largest and most academically high-achieving entering class in its history.
 
N.C. A&T Remains Top Producer of African American Engineers at All Levels
EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 1, 2017) – In its latest Top 100 Producers of Minority Degrees ranking, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education has ranked North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University the No. 1 producer of African American engineers at the undergraduate level; the No. 2 producer of African American engineers at the master’s level; and the No. 4 producer of African American engineers at the doctoral level.

“It is very validating to see this report. The credit for this result goes to our faculty, staff, students, and alumni – and I am very proud of them for the quality they consistently achieve for the benefit of our university and our nation,” said Dr. Robin Coger, dean of the College of Engineering.

The college will deepen its capacity to educate even more future engineers and computer scientists, when work begins later this academic year on the $90-million Engineering Research and Innovation Complex (ERIC), which will be central to the College’s continued growth and effectiveness.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education is a source for critical news, information and commentary on the full range of issues concerning diversity in American higher education. Each year, Diverse compiles the list of the Top 100 institutions that confer the most degrees to minority students by conducting an analysis of U.S. Department of Education reports submitted by institutions.

In addition to engineering, N.C. A&T has also been ranked in a number of categories including:

On the undergraduate level:

No. 2 in degrees awarded to African Americans in agriculture, agriculture operations and related sciences; engineering technologies and engineering-related fields; and parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies
No. 4 in degrees awarded to African Americans in communication, journalism and related programs; and mathematics and statistics
No. 5 in degrees awarded to African Americans in marketing
No. 7 in degrees awarded to African Americans in architecture and related services; family and consumer sciences/human sciences; and liberal arts and science, general studies and humanities
No. 8 in degrees awarded to African Americans in all disciplines combines; and visual and performing arts
No. 10 in degrees awarded to African Americans in psychology
At the graduate level, A&T has also been ranked:

No. 1 producer of master’s degrees awarded to African Americans in mathematics and statistics
No. 2 producer of master’s degrees awarded to African Americans in physical sciences
No. 5 producer of master’s degrees awarded to African Americans in engineering technologies and engineering-related fields
No. 6 producer of master’s degrees awarded to African Americans in English language and literature/letters
A&T has also ranked in the top 20 for:

Undergraduate degrees awarded to the total minority in engineering technologies and engineering-related fields; and agriculture, agriculture operations and related sciences
Undergraduate degrees awarded to African Americans in history, physical sciences, and public administration and social service professions
Master’s degrees awarded to African Americans in education
Master’s degrees awarded to total minority students in engineering technologies and engineering-related fields
“North Carolina A&T’s leadership in educating and graduating so many African American students in STEM disciplines and a host of other fields not only plays a transformative role in those graduates’ lives, but contributes significantly to the diversity of the fields in which they work,” said interim Provost Beryl McEwen.

These rankings come on the heels of the announcement of the university’s enrollment growth across racial and ethnic groups.