As part of the recently released “2019 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” ranking, U.S. News and World Report named Arizona State University’s online bachelor's programs number two in the nation, a jump from last year’s number four spot. ASU’s variety of online bachelor’s programs include biochemistry, sociology and urban planning, among others.
ASU was also ranked #2 for best online bachelor’s programs for veterans. U.S. News provides this ranking to universities who are certified for the GI Bill®, participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have enrolled a “critical mass” of students with military background.
In addition, 2019 rankings for ASU Online graduate degrees include:
- MBA programs: W.P Carey School of Business ranked sixth
- Business – Non MBA: W.P Carey School of Business ranked sixth
- Criminal justice: Ranked sixth
- Education: Ranked thirteenth
- Engineering: Ranked ninth
The U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Online Bachelor's Programs” ranking is determined based on four general categories: student engagement, student services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and peer reputation. Colleges are then assessed based on factors such as graduation rates, indebtedness of new graduates and academic and career support services offered to students.
“Serving our community and providing qualified students with the modality needed to reach their educational goals is part of our university charter. Through ASU Online, we are committed to offering the best experience to all of our students and ensuring that anyone who is motivated to pursue their degree has the opportunity to do so,” said Phil Regier, university dean for educational initiatives and CEO of EdPlus at ASU. “We are pleased that ASU continues to be recognized for its academic excellence within online learning and as an innovator in higher education.”
At ASU Online, the program holds the same accreditation as the university’s traditional program. ASU students who learn online connect with the full university experience: interaction with internationally recognized faculty, access to collections from ASU’s award-winning libraries, an alumni network tens of thousands of members strong, and membership in a community of thousands of students pursuing their degrees.
Early on, ASU saw the shifting dynamics of students and the need to provide access to education through multiple pathways, including online learning. With numerous degree programs available, online education is a great option for those who need to find a flexible way to study on their own time – when and where they can.
“At ASU, we work diligently to lay the right groundwork for each student at a personal and individual level because we know there is no silver bullet to student success,” said Leah Lommel, Assistant Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at EdPlus and ASU Online. “Each learner is unique – what works for one may not work for another. This reality requires a tireless commitment to innovation on the part of higher education. It requires us to create pathways for all who are interested in pursuing a degree – whether they’re already enrolled in our institutions or have dreams of attending.”
For one military veteran and now ASU grad, Johnathon Orrell, an online bachelor’s program was the perfect fit for his lifestyle and allowed him to earn his degree after a 20-year college journey.
After recently receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies, he says, “I wear my ASU colors with pride all the time. I am a Sun Devil. And it was all because of a happenstance conversation in an auditorium in Washington, D.C., when President Crow asked about my plans for the future.”
Similarly, Elizabeth Feathers started studying through ASU Online in 2013. Throughout her education, she says, “The flexibility of online learning allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA despite moving, getting married, traveling, working full-time, moving cross-country back home to Illinois, becoming a triathlete and even having a baby!"
She now has a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and hopes to move toward a leadership position within her current company.
ASU Online programs have grown leaps and bounds with a 60% increase in first-year enrollment since the fall of 2016. Looking forward, this growth is expected to continue.
“The most significant and promising element of online education gleaned over the past decade is that it can be as effective—or in some cases, more effective—than face-to-face learning, but only with the intervention and guidance of a strong faculty support network,” says Lommel. “We are pleased to offer a supportive, robust learning environment to all of our online students, and we look forward to witnessing all of their contributions and successes in 2019.”