ASU ranked the top school for innovation in the U.S. for sixth consecutive year

For the sixth consecutive year, ASU is ranked the top school for innovation in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. To create the list, college presidents, provosts and admissions deans around the country nominate up to 15 schools that are making the most innovative improvements to curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

From using virtual reality in biology labs to game-based learning while exploring art history, our 200+ ASU Online programs provide students an opportunity to use cutting-edge technology whenever and wherever they are. This is especially important in 2020, as access to education amid the pandemic requires renewed creativity in distance learning.

We continue to expand our innovative culture through ASU Online, which is one of the many reasons we’ve earned the designation of top school for innovation in the U.S. every year the category has existed.

This fall, ASU Online student enrollment has increased more than 22% over last fall, with upwards of 53,000 students enrolled. “The continued growth of ASU Online reflects the increasing demand for what ASU, uniquely, is able to offer: A set of rigorous degree programs that engage learners, advance them in their aspirations, and are equivalent in every way to our campus immersion offerings,” said Phil Regier, university dean for educational initiatives and CEO, EdPlus at ASU.

To support the advancement of ASU Online learners, we’ve launched more than 40 new degree programs for fall 2020 including:

• Astronomical and Planetary Sciences (BS): Students have the opportunity to explore planets, solar systems and galaxies.
• Nursing (MS) and Nursing (Nursing Education) (MS): The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation has expanded these programs to online, increasing access to quality nursing education.
• Sports Business (BA): Offered through the top-ranked W. P. Carey School of Business, students in this program develop knowledge of analytics, consumer behavior and design principles as they relate to the domain of sports.

We adapt our innovative portfolio of degrees to address the demands of our learners and provide an equally rigorous experience to that of our campus immersion offerings.

In 2020, ASU Online has launched 14 new STEM programs, including our newest addition, Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, which is the first and only degree of its kind available online. With over 85 STEM-related programs, we continuously strive to be one of the top schools for innovation in the fields of STEM.

Our online students work side by side with distinguished faculty on advanced research projects focused on society’s greatest challenges. Through accredited lab components, such as at-home chemistry lab kits and online molecular biology labs utilizing virtual reality, our STEM students can interact with materials, use lab tools, apply data collection techniques and create scientific models.

Labs offered in the digital environment are categorized into digital simulations, lab kits, kitchen labs and video labs. Through digital simulations, STEM students gain an experimental foundation for the concepts introduced in online lectures. Lab kits, such as dissection kits, enable students to conduct labs at home while following instructional videos. Kitchen labs, such as those used in chemistry courses, are conducted using household items to examine scientific principles. Video labs, which are conducted by a professional, are recorded for students to follow along with as they analyze and interpret a provided data set.

We innovate to solve problems to help our students succeed. That’s why our digital learning platform leverages the latest technology, combined with authentic lab experiences, to deliver a high-quality educational path for our online students. Explore ASU Online and see where your next turn can take you.

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