U.S. News & World Report Releases 2017 Best Online Programs Rankings

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today announced the 2017 Best Online Programs rankings to help students and working adults achieve their educational goals. The new edition covers more than 1,300 programs, including bachelor's and graduate degrees in fields such as business, engineering, education and nursing.

For the second year in a row, Florida's Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Worldwide is the Best Online Bachelor's Program. Pennsylvania's Temple University is the Best Online MBA Program for the third consecutive year. For students interested in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM fields, California schools remain at the top with the University of California—Los Angeles and the University of Southern California tied for No. 1 in engineering. The University of Southern California once again ranks No. 1 for computer information technology. Illinois' St. Xavier University tops the list for nursing, and the University of Florida is the Best Online Education Program for the second consecutive year.

"Online learning is relatively new but growing in popularity because of the flexibility it offers," said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. "We developed the Best Online Programs rankings to provide students with the tools to identify programs that offer top faculty, positive student engagement and generous support services – all of which are key to productive online learning."

Beyond the rankings, U.S. News offers year-round editorial content on navigating online education that includes tips on finding an accredited program, paying for school, comparisons to traditional, on-campus programs and employment prospects.

U.S. News is the only organization to evaluate distance education programs at the program level rather than the school level. The methodologies are based on a number of factors, including student engagement, faculty credentials and student services and technology. Only degree-granting programs at regionally accredited institutions that are offered primarily online were considered.

2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs

Bachelor's Programs 
1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Worldwide (FL) 
2. Temple University
3. University of Oklahoma

Graduate Programs

MBA  
1. Temple University (PA)
2. Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
3. Indiana University—Bloomington

Business, non-MBA 
1. Indiana University—Bloomington
2. University of Texas—Dallas
3. Arizona State University

Computer Information Technology
1. University of Southern California
2. Virginia Tech
3. New York University

Criminal Justice
1. Sam Houston State University (TX)
2. University of Nebraska—Omaha
3. University of California—Irvine

Education
1. University of Florida
2. University of Houston
3. Florida State University

Engineering
1. University of California—Los Angeles (tie)
1. University of Southern California (tie)
3. Columbia University (NY)

Nursing
1. St. Xavier University (IL)
2. Medical University of South Carolina
3. Duke University (NC) (tie)
3. Ohio State University (tie)

For more information visit Best Online Programs and use #BestOnlinePrograms on Facebook and Twitter.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report