Online graduate education programs gain U.S. News recognition

The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University has earned a number 14 ranking in two separate categories for its online graduate education programs in the first-ever edition of Top Online Education Program rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

Teachers College online graduate offerings were ranked 14th of 151 colleges and universities for student services and technology, and 14th of 69 for faculty credentials and training.

“These rankings speak to the success of our efforts to provide high-quality academic programs to current and future educators and researchers, regardless of the format they choose to access those programs,” said Suzanne Painter, director of the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation in Teachers College.

“Online programs offered by the college are developed by the same excellent faculty who teach in our on-campus programs and are designed to engage students and professors in meaningful ways,” Painter said. “Course assignments bridge theory and practice by applying course material to real-world scenarios and experiences. The quality and rigor of our programs improve the teaching profession, K-12 schools, and the education system as a whole.”

The U.S. News rankings were created in response to today’s high demand for education provided in a flexible manner. Online education has become increasingly popular due to its flexibility.

Online bachelor’s degree programs as well as graduate online degree programs in business, engineering, nursing, education, and computer information technology were ranked.

While U.S. News has applied some of its rankings standards used for traditional schools, many new measures have been developed and were used to evaluate online programs. In order to be considered for the rankings, online degree programs needed to have at least 80 percent of their course content available online.

Online bachelor’s degree programs were ranked in three different categories: student engagement and assessment, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. The online master’s degree programs were ranked in similar categories, but were evaluated on student engagement and accreditation as opposed to assessment. There was also a separate indicator ranking for admissions selectivity. There were no numeric rankings for overall program quality this inaugural year.

Data was collected from both for-profit and not-for-profit schools. More information about the rankings methodology may be found at http://www.usnews.com/onlinemeth.

For more information about the U.S. News Top Online Education Program rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.

ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is active on all four Phoenix-area campuses of ASU and around the state of Arizona, as well as online. The college offers challenging undergraduate and graduate education programs that prepare highly qualified and successful teachers, leaders and researchers. More information about Teachers College is available at http://education.asu.edu/.