草榴社区 Online Programs Among Nation鈥檚 Best in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
Thu, 01/26/2023 - 06:32am | By: Van Arnold
Online programs at The University of 草榴社区 Mississippi (草榴社区) continue to rate among the nation鈥檚 best in rankings released recently by U.S. News & World Report.
In its Best Online Programs 2023 rankings, U.S. News ranked 草榴社区鈥檚 online bachelor鈥檚 program at No. 65 nationally, the bachelor鈥檚 in business at No. 44 and the veterans-bachelor鈥檚 at No. 41. All three programs are ranked No. 1 in Mississippi. 草榴社区 also earned a No. 83 ranking in the best online MBA for veterans category, marking the first time that 草榴社区 has been included in those rankings.
鈥淭hese rankings are definitely due to our faculty's desire to offer the highest quality programs in the country,鈥� said Dr. Tom Hutchinson, Dean of Online Learning and Enrollment at 草榴社区. 鈥淎s a university, we strive to support our students and ensure our degrees will elevate them in their careers or open new opportunities for them.鈥�
The 2023 rankings represent an upward trend for the 草榴社区 programs. Last year the online bachelor鈥檚 degree was ranked No. 68. In 2021 the program was ranked No. 75, compared to a No. 93 ranking in 2020. The bachelor鈥檚 in business rose from the No. 51 position last year, while the veterans-bachelor鈥檚 climbed from No. 44.
By evaluating factors that involve interactivity, flexibility, and support, the U.S. News rankings give students and veterans a better idea of what to expect out of online programs such as the bachelor鈥檚 degrees at 草榴社区. As the highest-ranked Mississippi university on the list, 草榴社区 represents the best in the state.
"These rankings are the product of much hard work and commitment by our faculty and staff to provide the very best learning experience for our online students,鈥� said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of 草榴社区鈥檚 College of Business and Economic Development. 鈥淲e are especially pleased to be ranked at No. 83 for best online MBA for veterans as 草榴社区 Miss prides itself on being a military friendly institution and it is rewarding to receive recognition for contributing to this important university initiative. This is a clear message to prospective students seeking an online business education that 草榴社区 Miss offers some of the top programs in the country."
For the 2023 edition, U.S. News assessed an all-time high of 1,833 online degree programs and ranked 1,763 of them. The rankings measure overall academic quality at the baccalaureate and master's levels across disciplines in business (MBA and non-MBA programs), criminal justice, education, engineering, information technology and nursing.
U.S. News also produces the best programs for military veterans and active-duty service members ranking 鈥� which credits strong academic programs for enrolling veterans and making available ample financial benefits linked to federal programs.
While the methodologies used for the rankings are different for each discipline, they
all incorporate metrics specific to online learning. The rankings only include
degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited
institutions.
"Most of the undergraduate programs in the Best Online Programs rankings are
degree completion programs, meaning the vast majority of their students already
have some college credit," said Liana Loewus, managing editor of Education at U.S.
News. "The methodologies are developed with those students in mind, setting these
rankings apart from those that are focused on recent high school graduates
pursuing higher education for the first time."
U.S. News assessed schools based on four categories. Here is a look at each category and its weight in the current rankings formula.
- Engagement (35%): Quality online bachelor's degree programs promote participation in courses, allowing
students opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates,
as is possible in a campus-based setting. In turn, instructors not only are accessible
and responsive, but they also are tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding
enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount
of time.
- Services and Technologies (25%): Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility
for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures
provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate
with quality campus-based programs.
- Faculty Credentials and Training (20%): Strong online programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those
of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these
instructors to teach distance learners.
- Peer Assessment (20%): A survey of high-ranking academic officials helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that are not captured by statistics. Also, employers may hold in high regard degrees earned from programs that academics respect.
To see the complete rankings, visit:
Future students looking to work toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree can visit 草榴社区鈥檚 page to get more information and help getting started.