Online Bachelor's Programs Rise in 'U.S. News' Ranking; Grad Degrees Fare Well

Online bachelor’s degrees at the U of A climbed seven spots to No. 28 in the nation for the 2024 “Best Online Programs” announced by the U.S. News & World Report on Feb. 7. Online graduate engineering and graduate education programs ranked well.  

Online bachelor’s degree programs offered by four U of A colleges ranked 24th among 190 public universities and 16th in the “Programs for Veterans” sub-category.  

Online bachelor’s programs from the Sam M. Walton College of Business ranked No. 10 in the nation in the sub-category for online undergraduate business programs, climbing two spots from last year. 

Providing quality online programs is key to the U of A’s land-grant mission to serve all of Arkansas through access to educational opportunities no matter where students live and work. U of A academic colleges offer 92 online degree, certificate and licensure programs.

“The U of A is proud to provide high-quality online education and support to students who cannot attend in-person classes on the Fayetteville campus,” said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education. “Online education helps our campus fulfill its land-grant mission to serve the entire state, including those who live and work in communities hundreds of miles from Fayetteville.” 

In academic year 2023, 1,074 degrees and certificates were awarded to students who studied exclusively online, per the U of A Global Campus annual report. More than 8,000 students have graduated from online programs over the last 10 years. 

The colleges that provide 15 online bachelor’s degrees include Walton College; the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; and the College of Education and Health Professions. 

U OF A ONLINE GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS 

The College of Engineering held onto its No. 42 position in the nation, the same rank as in 2023, for “Best Online Programs” in the graduate engineering category. U of A master’s degrees in engineering ranked 33 among 85 public institutions. Online graduate engineering programs ranked No. 27 in the “Programs for Veterans” sub-category. 

"Our robust programs of study take students on a transformative journey where education meets real-world application, empowering them to shape the future of engineering while advancing their careers,” said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our continued top rankings are a testament to our advisers, faculty and staff and their commitment to academic excellence and innovation.” 

The college offers master’s degrees in engineering, electrical engineering and engineering management. 

Graduate education programs ranked No. 81, down seven slots from 2023. The College of Education and Health Professions offers seven master’s degrees in education and two others in human resource development and nursing. 

METHODOLOGY 

U.S. News rankings are based on four categories: engagement at 35%, services and technology at 25% and faculty credentials and training and peer assessment at 20% each. Full rankings, data and detailed methodologies are available on the U.S. News website.  

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

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.