U of A Online Bachelor's Degree Programs Ranked No. 18 by 'U.S. News'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Online bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Arkansas ranked No. 18 among 348 national institutions ranked in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Online Programs” report for 2019. These programs are offered through 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 graduate education programs offered by the College of Education and Health Professions climbed to No. 46 among 299 nationally ranked online programs, rising from No. 56. Online graduate engineering programs from the College of Engineering held the No. 45 spot for the second year in a row, with 94 institutions ranked in 2019.

All online programs are showcased on the University of Arkansas ONLINE website.

“Thousands of students benefit every day from top-quality U of A online degree programs, thanks to the faculty’s commitment to academic excellence and the institution’s investment in the design, development and delivery of online programs,” said Donald Judges, vice provost for distance education. “Online flexibility helps students overcome the barriers of time and distance, allowing them to reach their career goals.”

The U of A offers seven online bachelor’s degree programs:

• Communication
• Interdisciplinary studies
• Accounting
• General business
• Supply chain management
• Human resource and workforce development
• And a program for registered nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Graduate engineering degrees

U of A online graduate engineering programs ranked No. 45 nationally among 94 assessed institutions and No. 37 among public institutions.

“We’re pleased to see our commitment to providing high-quality, impactful online courses has been recognized again by these U.S. News and World Report rankings,” said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our faculty and staff do tremendous work providing engaging resources that allow engineers from across Arkansas and around the nation to advance their careers.”

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. 46 among 299 assessed institutions and No. 43 among public institutions.

“This is a fantastic recognition of not only the resources the U of A provides students, but of our faculty’s dedication and hard work,” said Michael T. Miller, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “We continue to be very proud of the extremely high quality of our programs and appreciate these kinds of recognitions.”

Graduate education degrees delivered online:

• Master’s and doctoral degrees in adult and lifelong learning
• Master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership
• Master’s degree in educational technology
• Master’s and doctoral degrees in human resource and workforce development education
• Education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction
• Master’s degree in physical education
• Master’s degree in special education.

Methodology

U.S. News rankings for undergraduate degree programs 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 selectivity of their admissions. Full rankings, data and detailed methodologies are available on the U.S. News website.

U of A online

The importance of providing high-quality online programs grows as the online student population increases, both nationally and at the U of A. Of the U of A’s total enrollment in academic year 2018, 10.6 percent, or 3,150 students, studied exclusively online. During that year, 503 online students earned graduate degrees and 211 earned bachelor’s degrees.

Of the 1,124 undergraduates studying exclusively online in 2018, 70.6 percent were from Arkansas and 37.8 percent were first generation, meaning the students’ parents did not have college degrees.

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.