Michigan State University online graduate programs continue to receive top rankings in the U.S. News & World Report Online Program Rankings 2024 Edition

After returning to the top 10 in the 2023 report, MSUs online graduate program in the College of Education improved three places to a No. 7 ranking overall and among public institutions.

The program also placed in the top five in the four specific disciplinary areas identified by U.S. News & World Report:

In todays dynamic educational landscape, online education is a catalyst for accessible learning, breaking barriers and offering flexibility, said Jerlando Jackson, dean of the MSU College of Education. The notable improvement of the colleges online rankings underscores the exceptional quality of education that Spartans are experiencing across the globe.

The Broad College of Business online non-MBA graduate program increased two places to No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 among public institutions. This represents the programs highest-ever ranking. The program also jumped one place to No. 2 in the nation, No. 1 among publics, in online business programs for veterans.

The College of Social Sciences online masters program in criminal justice is ranked No. 10 in the nation and No. 6 among public universities. The program is also ranked No. 5 among the best criminal justice programs for veterans.

U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a combination of reputational surveys, data-based metrics and metrics specific to online instruction.

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MSU's business, education online graduate programs ranked highly by US News - MSUToday

Utah State University has once again been recognized as one of the leading online bachelors programs in the country. USU Online ranked in the top 10% of colleges in the nation overall, ranking 32nd. The rankings are issued by U.S. News & World Report,one of the preeminent college ranking systems.

As Utah's land grant university, USU is committed to providing access to high-quality education online and in-person at one of our 30 locations across the state, said Ryan Hobbs, associate vice president for Digital Learning and Innovation. USU is proud to be a nationally recognized leader of online education."

USU pulled high marks in several categories of the USNWR ranking system. USUs online bachelors program in psychology rose nine spots from the 2023 rankings, being ranked 18th in the nation. USU also ranked in the top 20 in its online program for veterans, as well as rising five spots to boast a top-40 online bachelors program in business. USU also ranked well in online MBA programs and online Veterans MBA programs.

USU currently offers 17 online bachelors degrees and 20 masters degrees, as well as four associate degree options, seven undergraduate certificates, seven graduate certificates, two professional education licensures and one doctorate.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes USU as one of Utahs top-ranked online universities and one of the top universities in the Western U.S. Entering its 29th year, USU Online continues to fulfill USUs land-grant mission by offering online education outside of the traditional campus setting.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released after a competitive screening process of more than 300 universities. Highly ranked programs have strong traditional academic foundations based on student-instructor access, graduation rates and instructor credentials, according to U.S. News & World Report. They also excel at educating distance learners while offering robust career and financial support. This year, the annual rankings underwent significant methodological changes.

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USU Online Bachelor's Programs Ranked in Top 10 Percent by U.S. News & World Report - Utah State University

From online bachelors completion programs to at-your-own-pace masters programs, the University of Denver has been a long-time leader in the online education space. With 76 online degree programs and 100 online certificate programs, the offerings are diverse and exceptional. According to U.S. News and Reports latest rankings released last week, DU has earned Best status for six of its online programs.

Four online programs from University College (UCOL) ranked in the top 50. The online masters in information and communication technology is ranked No. 45, up three spots from the previous year. The program is ranked even higher for veterans at No. 21. UCOLs program, which has concentrations in cybersecurity management, database design, information security and software design, among others, helps develop professionals in the ever-changing technology field.

University College also offers bachelor completion programs for adults, allowing non-traditional students to finish their degree at DU. University College's success is all about making educationand online education, in particularas accessible as possible to students wanting to return to school.

University College has offered online programs for nearly 30 years, and we have a team of adult learning experts and designers who develop engaging and interactive learning experiences. Coupled with instructors who know how to build community and deliver an exceptional learning experience, some students find their online courses more engaging than on-campus courses they took at other colleges and universities, said Andrea Gross, assistant dean of enrollment, in a DU Newsroom story about busting common myths about returning to college earlier this year.

U.S. News and World Report also ranked the online bachelors degree in business (which includes degrees in accounting, finance, marketing and management) at No. 17, up 15 spots from the year prior, and the online bachelor completion degree at No. 45.

The Daniels College of Business online MBA program, MBA@Denver, was also ranked in the top 100 at No. 74. The program ranked even higher for veterans at No. 50. Built with the working professional in mind, the program offers flexible scheduling options with options to begin coursework in September, January, March and June. Each course meets once per week for 90 minutes.

We developed our Online MBA program from the ground up, based on research about how students learn most effectively in the virtual space, said program director Kenny Metcalfe. Students receive support and flexibility to balance their priorities while earning their degree.

U.S. News has been publishing school rankings for online degree programs since 2013. For 2024, they evaluated undergraduate and graduate programs at 1,750 colleges and universities on several general categories: engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessment, services and technologies, and student excellence. To view the complete rankings, click here.

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University of Denver Earns Best Status in U.S. News 2024 Rankings for Best Online Programs - University of Denver Newsroom

Photo courtesy of Utah State University

LOGAN Now in its 29th year offering online education outside the traditional campus setting, USU Online is once again numbered among the leading bachelors programs in the country.

The 2024 rankings, issued this week, were announced by U.S. News & World Report, one of the preeminent college ranking systems.

In the new numbers from USNWR, USU Online ranks 32nd overall among the leading online bachelors programs which puts it in the top 10 percent of American colleges.

In the 2023 rankings USU finished 11th overall, which was three spots better than 2022 when it ranked 14th. USU had been ranked in the top 25 nine straight years before this year.

USUs online bachelors program in psychology jumped nine spots to 18th this year and its online program for veterans also ranks in the top 20.

There are 17 online bachelors degrees, 20 masters degrees and one doctorate offered by USU Online as well as four associate degree options, seven undergraduate certificates, seven graduate certificates and two professional education licensures.

Each year U.S. News & World Reports conducts a competitive screening of more than 300 universities.

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USU online Bachelor's programs rank in nation's top 10 percent - Cache Valley Daily

Three years after abandoning edX, the pioneering open-access online course provider, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are settling into amore conventional route toimprove post-secondary access and completion.

The two elite universities, through anon-profit they call the Axim Collaborative, have begun redirecting slices oftheir $800million (600million) payout from the edXsale towards funding projects designed largely to benefit low-income and non-traditional students.

To lead Axim on that mission, the universities have chosen Stephanie Khurana, a Harvard-affiliated expert in social venture philanthropy and technological innovation who has begun identifying partners largely university-based with demonstratable skills in using technology to improve overall student success.

Some of those things are inside the classroom; sometimes theyre adjacent to the classroom; and sometimes theyre connected to work, MsKhurana said in outlining the strategies that Axim hopes to accelerate. The goal, she said, is to just fill those holes and overcome those barriers, with these innovations.

The need is clearly there. Only about 60per cent of US high school leavers enrol in college, and just about 60per cent of them earn adegree, leaving the country with some 40million people who have spent some time at university but lack aqualification acostly outcome that is substantially worse among racial minorities.

Less clear, however, is whether and how successfully higher education reformers will work with the progeny of two prominent and wealthy educational institutions that already had a promising solution inedX but abandoned itbecause of the cost.

Ms Khurana acknowledged the challenge, saying Axim is really trying to make a difference and, frankly, earn the trust of these broad-access institutions.

Campus resource: open educational resources to make lifelong learning accessible to all

Theyve had a lot of people come in and try to innovate, and a lot of people back out, and were very sensitive to that, she told Times Higher Education.

That concern looks central, given the Harvard-MIT abandonment ofedX, said Kevin Carey, director of education policy at New America Foundation, a left-of-centre thinktank. Itseems like Harvard and MIT sold at the top, and are now trying to figure out what to do with all that money in a way that is in some way connected to the original spirit ofedX, MrCarey said.

Harvard and MIT started edX in 2012, with a combined investment of $60million and a goal of helping universities share their courses globally at little or nocost to students. The edX platform grew to supply more than 3,600 courses from 160 university partners to 42million students worldwide.

But Harvard and MIT sold the main business in 2021, saying its low-fee model was not looking financially viable, and promising to use the proceeds to drive the next iteration of learning innovation. The buyer, 2U, is a for-profit version ofedX that has since seen itscorporate value plummet to below $100million and has pushed out the founder who negotiated the purchase.

The name Axim is a portmanteau combining access and impact. Its initial round offunding beneficiaries shows heavy attention to students in community colleges and the development of artificial intelligence tools. They include such projects as Arizona State University working with the Southwestern Community College District in California to help under-represented students by combining in-person and online services; and MIT, Georgia State University and Quinsigamond Community College testing AI-infused student tutoring.

Maria Anguiano, the executive vice-president of ASUs Learning Enterprise, is among Axims enthusiasts. ASUs Axim-funded work shows how the standard model can be flipped on its head to reach more learners, shesaid.

Mr Carey said he saw some worthwhile goals, but questioned why Harvard and MIT appeared to be largely reinforcing work done by others, and limiting their planned spending on Axim MsKhurana expects an annual budget of $20million to $25million ayear, including the cost of maintaining afree version of the edX course distribution system to the interest generated by edXs $800million sale proceeds. The richest university in the world got richer from this, Mr Carey said of the edX sale, and theyre going to keep the money and just spend the interest.

The appropriate way to evaluate Axim is in relation to the original ideals around which edX was formed and [to] ask: are they doing all they can to live up to this? he said. And Im not sure Ican say the answer is yes.

Ms Khurana, by contrast, sees Axim as giving a substantial boost to worthwhile projects. Trickle-down innovation isnt apanacea for reaching those who could benefit most, she said.

paul.basken@timeshighereducation.com

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After pioneering edX, Harvard and MIT tackle online access afresh - Times Higher Education

Lees-McRae College has remained highly ranked on the latest list of 2024 Best Online Bachelors Rankings from U.S. News and World Report. The college, which ranked 45th out of hundreds of online bachelors programs across the country, is also the only private North Carolina higher education institution in the top 50.

This ranking positions Lees-McRae as one of the premier institutions in the state for online bachelors degrees and gives official recognition to the institutions consistent strives toward excellence and improvement.

Our structures within Online and Distance Learning are there to provide students with all the support they need, and that is something Im really proud of, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Pamela Vesely said. Were able to really tailor our online programs to the skills that working professionals need and provide opportunities for them to enrich their education and finish their degrees while they are also living their lives. We have instructors and professors who are practitioners, so they know what its going to take to be able to be successful in a career, and that is what they build into their curriculums.

Explore the colleges full U.S. News and World Report ranking

Learn more about Online and Distance Learning opportunities at Lees-McRae College

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Lees-McRae College online and distance learning programs receive recognition of excellence from U.S. News and ... - Lees-McRae College

For the third consecutive year, UNC Charlotte has earned a spot among the top 10 best providers of online bachelors degrees in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Reports 2024 Best Online Bachelors Degrees rankings, released on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

UNC Charlotte ranks No. 7 (tie) and is one of only six universities to be ranked in the top 10 for three consecutive years.

U.S. News metrics for the online undergraduate rankings include student engagement, support given to students and instructor training and credentials.

For Charlotte, U.S. News evaluated its seven fully online bachelors programs, including nursing (RN-to-BSN), elementary education (teaching assistant to teacher), respiratory therapy, engineering technology (fire safety) and professional studies. All of these programs were developed as degree completion programs for students who already have some college credit.

Online masters degrees rankings

In separate 2024 Best Online Masters Degrees rankings, also released on Feb. 7, U.S. News recognized four Charlotte online graduate or specialty programs:

Growing to serve working adults

UNC Charlotte provides more than 50 online degree programs, all geared toward working adults.

As enrollment and offerings in UNC Charlotte online programs continue to grow to serve our region, state and beyond, we are pleased to see the University consistently recognized as one of the top providers of high-quality and affordable online programs in the U.S., said Jennifer Troyer, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. This illustrates UNC Charlottes university-wide commitment to supporting working adults as they continue their education and advance their careers. Were proud of the hard work our dedicated faculty and staff have put in to develop online programs.

Online programs are powered by the School of Professional Studies, which launched in 2021 to streamline the student experience for working professionals.

Over the last two years, Charlotte has launched an online MBA and three online bachelors degree completion programs: B.S. in Professional Studies, B.A. in Political Science and B.A. in Sociology: Concentration in Organizations, Occupations and Work.

Enrollment in Charlotte online programs has increased 36% over the past five years.

In its 12th year, the U.S. News Best Online Programs is designed for individuals looking to complete or further their education. U.S. News evaluated more than 1,600 online bachelor's and master's degree programs for the rankings.

According to the publication, while the methodologies are different for each discipline, they all incorporate metrics specific to online learning. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are eligible.

This is the latest in a growing number of national rankings that illustrate UNC Charlottes rise as a top-tier global research university. In September, Charlotte climbed 41 spots in the U.S. News 2024 Best College rankings, achieving a spot among the nations top 100 public universities.

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Charlotte ranks No. 7 in the nation for online bachelor's programs - Inside UNC Charlotte

CORVALLIS, Ore. For the tenth year in a row, Oregon State University has been ranked as one of the top 10 providers of online education in the nation, according to OSU officials.

The college said that the ranking by U.S. News and World Report ranked OSUs online education program as number four out of nearly 350 higher education institutions in the category of Best Online Bachelors Program. Oregon State Ecampus, the colleges online education unit, partners with more than 1,200 OSU faculty members to develop and deliver more than 100 online programs which includes 47 bachelors degrees, college officials said.

Oregon States success in online education is the result of highly collaborative relationships throughout the university community, said Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy. Im pleased to see OSU again recognized as a model for excellence in online teaching and learning as we deliver on our land grant mission to offer accessible, high-quality education to learners throughout Oregon and beyond.

OSUs Ecampus unit serves students in all 50 states, nearly 60 countries, and saw more than 11,000 OSU students learn exclusively online in the fall of 2023, OSU officials said. OSU said U.S. News and World Report also awarded OSU with four other Top 25 rankings for online programs, with three of the rankings for OSU online bachelors programs and a fourth for one of its masters program. The magazine ranked OSUs psychology program at number two, its business program at number three, and its online programs for veterans at number 13, college officials said. OSU said their online masters in engineering program was ranked at number 22.

OSU first made the Best Online Bachelors Programs Top 10 in 2015 and its online-only enrollment, the number of programs offered online, and OSU faculty teaching Ecampus classes have all more than doubled since then, the college said.

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Oregon State University's Ecampus unit earns 10th 'Top 10' national ranking in a row - KEZI TV

February 9, 2024

JAKARTA While many in the education sector are still grappling with how to keep generative artificial intelligence (AI) out of schools, students in Pekanbaru, Riau, are actively using it as part of a pioneering local government program.

AI is key to preparing for the future in Riau and Indonesia, thereby realizing the vision of a Golden Indonesia that progresses toward an anticipated advanced nation, Governor Syamsuar said during the programs launch last October, as reported in a press release by Universitas Insan Cita Indonesia (UICI).

The Jakarta-based university developed the AI-based education program that is now being piloted in select high schools in Riau. In these schools, students study a curated curriculum at their own pace and preferred location, whether at home or in a caf, using personal computers. Teachers closely monitor their progress.

UICI is a trailblazer in techpowered education in Indonesia. It describes itself as the countrys first fully digitalized university and uses an AI Digital Simulator Teaching Learning System that enables students to study anytime and anywhere, with or without an internet connection.

In Semarang, Central Java, Binus School has also pioneered the use of AI and augmented reality to bring abstract subjects to life. Within dedicated laboratories, students can explore complex subjects like the solar system in an accessible, visually appealing manner, and immerse themselves in an animated prehistoric world to learn about dinosaurs.

These initiatives signal a potential new tech-powered revolution in Indonesian education.

Read also: How tech wants to enhance our mobilityOld-school problems

The speed of this revolution is contingent on overcoming several challenges.

During the pandemic, the education technology start-up sector flourished, as students received government funds to take online courses. When the funding dried up post-pandemic and students returned to classrooms, the excitement over edtech start-ups fizzled. But technology to improve learning is not exclusive to start-ups as long as traditional educational institutions embrace them.

Yandra Arkeman, a professor in agroindustrial technology at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), envisions AI and the metaverse revolutionizing learning: A world where physical colocation of teachers and students is unnecessary, where old biology teaching aids become obsolete.

Education is stepping into the third dimension, he asserts.

Nevertheless, Orbit Future Academy president commissioner Ilham Akbar Habibie notes a persistent emphasis on physical presence in Indonesian schools. Digitally sharing educational resources could address the uneven distribution of quality education across the archipelago.

Despite the governments Merdeka Belajar initiative, which allows students to take online courses from other universities, territorial restrictions in high school enrollment and non-recognition of asynchronous online education hinder the growth of online or distance learning.

Arkeman stressed the urgent need for regulations that can keep pace with technological leaps, especially in education. Teachers also need to be retrained to be able to fully unleash the power of the internet in classrooms.

And then there are the concerns over cheating, or how students ask AI tools like ChatGPT to answer their online tests for them.

To address this, the late Hasri Ainun Habibies Orbit Foundation created Orbit360, an educational service supporting the digital transformation of schools. Orbit360 offers an online examination feature that minimizes the possibility of students engaging in dishonest practices by imposing time penalties when the system detects that the student is trying to find the answer elsewhere.

Read also: Evolving financial services: Online lending and digital payments lead the wayLearning about tech

Aside from leveraging technology to improve education, Ilham emphasized that Indonesia also has to improve education about technology.

Ilham believes that the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) curricula, along with project-based learning (PBL) that applies theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, should be mandatory to enhance students understanding and application of science and technology in Indonesia.

He highlighted the importance of digital literacy in the educational context, pointing out that students tend to have higher digital literacy levels compared to parents or teachers, depending on their generation.

Digital literacy is considered a significant obstacle because, without adequate understanding, stakeholders may not perceive the relevance and benefits of technology-based education systems.

In addition to digital literacy, Ilham notes other barriers in education technology, including potential

additional costs. Despite the increased effectiveness and efficiency of technology use, some parties may be reluctant to change because of familiarity with traditional systems.

Arkeman also expressed his hopes for the development of the education technology industry in Indonesia.

I hope that in the future, Indonesia can become a producer of education technology, with innovations that can help the country become a leader in digital technology, not just a consumer, he said.

Read also: Fostering Peer-to-Peer Lendings Role in Indonesias Economy

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Will AI power a revolution in Indonesian education? - asianews.network

The age of digital learning has been heralded as a panacea for escalating education costs, promising a more affordable and accessible alternative to traditional in-person education. Yet, as the data begins to reveal, the cost benefits of online degrees may not be as pronounced as initially anticipated.

According to the Online Learning Consortium's director of professional learning, Josh Herron, tuition fees for online courses often encompass expenses akin to those in physical settings. These include academic and student support services, technology investments, and course design costs.

A recent study sheds light on the financial implications of this trend. The average total tuition cost for out-of-state students in online bachelor's programs stands at $28,811. Furthermore, additional fees for software programs and instructor training add to the financial burden, challenging the notion that completing a degree online is invariably less expensive than traditional on-campus education.

However, not all online programs bear the same price tag. The 20 most affordable schools for out-of-state online undergraduate students offer tuition costs ranging from $18,000 to $28,000. The average per-credit price for out-of-state undergrads among these colleges is $360, providing a glimmer of hope for budget-conscious students.

The variations in time-to-degree completion also significantly impact the overall cost of an online degree. The opportunity to leverage prior learning assessments, which can reduce the number of credits required to graduate, presents another potential avenue for cost savings.

Despite these factors, Herron emphasizes that there are financial advantages to online learning that do not appear on the tuition bill. These include reductions in commuting, parking, and housing expenses, as well as the opportunity costs associated with attending classes on campus.

As the landscape of online education continues to evolve, it is crucial for students to critically evaluate the cost-benefit analysis of pursuing an online degree. While the potential for savings exists, it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

In the end, the digital transformation of education offers a wealth of opportunities, from increased accessibility to personalized learning experiences. However, the myth of drastically reduced tuition costs for online degrees requires a more nuanced examination, one that considers both the tangible and intangible expenses associated with this evolving educational paradigm.

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Debunking the Myth: The True Cost of Online Degrees - BNN Breaking