Eleven Arizona State University online undergraduate and graduate degree programs ranked among the top three in their categories in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
In addition to being ranked among the top 10 in the country for best online bachelor’s degree programs, ASU’s online bachelor’s degree program in business was named best in the nation, tying with the University of Florida. The online bachelor’s degree in psychology ranked second. Both of these were new categories to the 2021 Best Online Programs rankings.
In 2020, more than 73,000 students were enrolled at the university in one of the more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs available through ASU Online. This is up from more than 60,000 in 2019.
The online programs at ASU hold the same accreditation as the university’s traditional programs. ASU Online students learn the same curriculum and earn the same degree as on-campus students — which means the same rigor of coursework and quality of content, designed with the hands-on guidance and functionality to empower online learners to succeed. The same nationally and internationally recognized faculty who teach on campus teach ASU Online’s courses, and they are engaged in scholarship and the production of new knowledge in their field’s research.
ASU also utilizes more than 200 tools and technologies to not only make learning engaging, but also to allow faculty to ensure online courses meet the same academic standards and learning outcomes of their campus-based courses.
“The primary elements of ASU Online’s success are the top-notch ASU faculty, its student support and its integration of technology into the learning environment,” said Executive Vice President and University Provost Mark Searle. “Meeting our learners where they are includes offering consistently excellent programs in the online space — when the rigorous academic quality of our online programs are combined with best-in-class technology and a suite of student success services unmatched in online education, ASU’s programs have simply come to be recognized among the best.”
ASU also ranked among the best in the nation for a number of online graduate degree programs.
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College ranked in the top 15 overall for best online master’s education programs. Three online education master’s degree programs at ASU were also ranked first in the country: curriculum and instruction, educational administration and supervision, and educational/instructional media design, while the special education program ranked third.
For the Best Online Graduate Programs in Business, U.S. News & World Report ranked ASU third overall for non-MBA business programs. The W. P. Carey School of Business also ranked top 10 overall for its online MBA program and received top three rankings under four areas of study: marketing and general management were both ranked first with finance and business analytics coming in second.
Additional 2021 online graduate program rankings for ASU were:
Engineering: The online master’s degree in engineering placed top 10, while the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering also received top 10 rankings for the following specialties:
• Second — electrical engineering.
• Fifth — civil engineering.
• Sixth — management.
Criminal justice: ASU’s online master’s degree in criminal justice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions was ranked seventh.
U.S. News & World Report provides several higher education rankings throughout the year, most recently rating ASU as the most innovative university in the country for the sixth year in a row.
“Through ASU Online, we are committed to ensuring that anyone who is motivated to pursue their degree has the opportunity to do so, and ASU continues to prove that we can expand access to higher education through our online program offerings,” 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 our undergraduate and graduate online degree programs.”
The 2021 Best Online Programs rankings also ranked ASU among the best for veterans looking to pursue their degree through an online program. The university was ranked fourth in the nation for bachelor’s degree programs for veterans, as well as in the top 10 for graduate programs for veterans in criminal justice, education, engineering and business MBA.
More on the 2021 U.S. News & World Report online rankings
• ASU engineering ranks in US News’ top 10 best online programs
• ASU’s online MBA moves up in US News & World Report rankings, celebrates 9th year in top 10
• ASU Teachers College online graduate programs again ranked among the best in U.S.
• Online criminal justice graduate program ranks among top 10 in U.S. for seventh consecutive year
Arizona Online programs leap into Top 10 of rankings
After only six years of operation and five years of rankings eligibility, Arizona Online made its first top 10 appearance in the 2021 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Arizona Online climbed to No. 7 overall – and No. 6 among public universities – out of 337 programs, further solidifying itself as a national leader in online education.
“The University of Arizona has worked tirelessly to develop exceptional educational opportunities for students throughout the world, both in our traditional classrooms and in online settings,” said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. “This ranking places us among the nation’s most prestigious online education programs and shows our commitment to flexibility and accessibility. I am very proud of what Arizona Online continues to accomplish.”
With a four-spot jump from last year’s No. 11 overall placement and a 74-spot increase from the university’s inaugural appearance in 2017, Arizona Online is one of the nation’s fastest-rising universities in the rankings.
In fall 2020, Arizona Online enrolled more than 6,200 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of its students are adults working full time and parents who seek the flexibility of online courses, as well as active military personnel who require the ability to study from wherever they are stationed or deployed.
Arizona Online also scored top 10 spots in two first-time categories for bachelor’s programs: business (No. 6 overall, with the third-best overall score among 143 programs) and psychology (No. 8 overall).
“In six years, Arizona Online has grown from having a limited number of fully online programs to offering nearly 40 online bachelor’s degrees,” said Liesl Folks, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Our main priority is to prepare students for successful careers by providing access to quality online education and keeping the human interaction at the forefront of the learning experience.”
This year, Arizona Online placed No. 5 overall and No. 4 among public universities in its bachelor’s program offerings for veterans. Other veteran-specific rankings include these online master’s programs:
• No. 4: computer information technology
• No. 7: MBA
• No. 10: nursing
• No. 16: engineering
In addition to bachelor’s programs, U.S. News & World Report ranks online graduate programs.
Arizona Online saw significant year-over-year improvements in graduate-level offerings. In information technology graduate programs, which includes information systems, computer science, computer engineering and software engineering, It placed tied for No. 6 out of 74 programs and No. 5 among public universities. These programs are offered through the Eller College of Management, the College of Science and the College of Engineering.
The Eller College’s online MBA program finished in the top 10 for the second time, placing in a tie at No. 10, and was ranked No. 7 among public universities. The graduate nursing program offered through the College of Nursing ranked No. 32 overall.
Two other Arizona Online graduate programs also earned strong placements. In engineering programs, Arizona Online tied at No. 30 overall – up eight spots from last year. In education programs, it tied at No. 46 overall.
“We are delighted to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a national leader in providing students high quality online learning experiences,” said Craig Wilson, vice provost for online and distance education. “At Arizona Online, we also understand the difficult times our students, faculty and staff are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we will continue to find innovative ways to improve the online learning and work environments we use daily to ensure our students are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.”
U.S. News & World Report ranks programs based on student engagement, student services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinion.
