Northeastern University is making its presence in North Carolina known as the Boston school’s first satellite campus outside of Massachusetts gears up to offer graduate degrees.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and local officials scheduled a ribbon-cutting Monday for Northeastern University’s new downtown Charlotte campus.

The school plans to offer eight master’s degree programs focusing on the Charlotte financial industry. Other degree programs may be offered in the future. Classes are expected to begin in January.

The Charlotte Observer reported (bit.ly/uc32KE) that the Boston school compared Charlotte to cities such as Atlanta, Boston and Dallas.