In the United States, one third of all college students — 6.5 million
people — enrolled in at least one online class at a postsecondary
institution, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
And with colleges and universities launching more online programs to
meet demand, U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 1,600
bachelor’s and master’s degree programs to give prospective students the
ability to compare schools on factors such as tuition rates, time
commitment and area of study.
“Prospective students now have a lot of options when choosing an online undergraduate or graduate
program,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News.
“For people looking for more flexibility as they pursue their higher
education goals, U.S. News has information on relevant factors like
accreditation, graduation rates and student support services.”
Illinois’ Rush University’s online master’s in nursing received the number one
ranking for nursing programs. For online MBAs, Indiana University,
Bloomington and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, tie for
No. 1, while the University of Southern California remains at the top
for computer information technology master’s programs.
Online courses offer students greater access to education regardless of where
they live or other commitments they may have, according to a report from
the Brookings Institution, and have the potential to redefine
educational opportunities for non-traditional learners. Online platforms
can also be personalized to fit students’ needs, potentially improving
education quality.
