Online Undergraduate Degree Programs Reach No. 16 in 'U.S. News' Rankings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Online undergraduate degree programs at the University of Arkansas climbed to their highest rank ever: No. 16 among 346 national institutions in the U.S. News & World Report of “Best Online Programs” in 2018.

Online graduate engineering programs from the College of Engineering and online graduate education programs from the College of Education and Health Professions also ranked in the top 50 among public institutions.

Online bachelor’s degree programs rose to No. 16 in 2018, up from No. 36 in 2017 and No. 49 in 2016. The undergraduate programs in communication, interdisciplinary studies, general business, human resource and workforce development, and nursing are offered by the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and the College of Education and Health Professions.

Online programs are showcased on the University of Arkansas ONLINE website.

“The U of A can be proud of its top-quality online degree programs, thanks to the faculty’s commitment to educational excellence and the institution’s investment in the design, development, support and delivery of online programs,” said Donald Judges, vice provost for distance education. “These programs provide positive educational experiences that help our students reach their career goals.”

Graduate Engineering Degrees

U of A online graduate engineering programs ranked No. 45 among 93 assessed institutions, and No. 35 among public institutions.

“The continued success of our online engineering programs is a reflection of our commitment to providing meaningful, accessible and affordable education for our students in Arkansas and across the country,” said John English, dean of engineering. “I appreciate Dr. Ed Pohl and Ms. Jane Cromhout, directors of our online engineering programs, for their leadership in providing this opportunity for engineers to advance their careers through education.”

Graduate engineering degrees delivered online are master’s degrees in engineering, electrical engineering and engineering management.

Graduate Education Degrees

U of A online graduate education programs ranked No. 56 among 309 assessed institutions and No. 48 among public institutions.

“This is a credit to our incredible faculty who teach online,” said Michael Miller, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “I’m confident these programs will continue to provide access to learners who need online programs.”

Graduate education degrees delivered online are master’s and doctoral degrees in adult and lifelong learning, master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, a master’s degree in educational technology, master’s and doctoral degrees in human resource and workforce development education, an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, a master’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in special education.

U.S. News rankings for undergraduate degrees are based on four categories: student engagement, student services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and peer reputation. Rankings for graduate education and graduate engineering programs include those four categories and the selectivity of their admissions. Full rankings, data and methodologies are available on the U.S. News website.

The U of A’s commitment to  high-quality online programs includes providing support and resources to faculty and participating in initiatives such as the Quality Matters Program, a nationally recognized nonprofit, quality-assurance program of Maryland Online Inc. The faculty-centered Quality Matters Program provides training for faculty and staff members to design online courses based on national education standards and provides a peer review process.

About the Global Campus: The Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.