Florida State University’s online programs are among the best in the nation — including three graduate programs ranked in the Top 10 — according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Online Programs.
“FSU’s high rankings in a variety of disciplines are a testament to the dedication of our faculty and administration in providing students the resources they need to attain an outstanding online education,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie. “This recognition demonstrates the strides Florida State is making toward higher national prominence.”
Florida State’s online graduate programs in business (non-MBA) jumped 22 spots to No. 4 in the latest rankings, while the university’s graduate programs in education (No. 3) and criminal justice (No. 5) held steady in the Top 10.
“The advances Florida State has made in the rankings reflect the continuing commitment of the university in providing programs and curriculum that ensure students receive a quality online education,” said Susann Rudasill, director of the Office of Distance Learning. “Contributing to this online experience are our exceptional faculty and strong student engagement, two key criteria used in the rankings.”
The College of Education’s online graduate program continues to rank among the best in the nation at No. 3. The college offers degrees in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership/administration, instructional systems and learning technologies, learning and cognition, and special education studies.
“The College of Education was one of the earliest colleges to offer graduate programs online,” said Marcy Driscoll, dean of the College of Education. “Evaluation studies have consistently affirmed the excellence of our programs, so it wasn’t a surprise that when U.S. News & World Report started rating online programs we would be ranked in the Top 10 nationally. This ranking reflects the quality of our programs and the dedication of our faculty to provide students with an outstanding educational experience.”
The College of Business’s online graduate program (non-MBA) moved into the Top 10 this year to No. 4, up from No. 26 last year. Students can pursue Master of Science degrees in management information systems and risk management and insurance. The college’s online MBA program also shot up to No. 44 from its previous ranking of No. 62.
“As an early leader in offering master’s degrees online, we’re committed to continually improving our programs so we can serve students more effectively and efficiently,” said Michael D. Hartline, interim dean of the College of Business. “We’re proud that our online courses are taught by full-time faculty — all experts in their field — who work hard to provide students with the support structure they need to succeed. It’s great to see that these new rankings reflect our efforts.”
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s online graduate program jumped two spots to No. 5. The college offers a master’s degree in criminal justice studies, combining a first-rate faculty with the flexibility of the distance-learning environment.
“We are pleased that our college’s online graduate program is recognized as among the very best in the country,” said Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Our online and campus graduate programs are taught by the No. 1-ranked faculty in the country for research productivity over the past 10 years. As a result, students completing our programs are receiving the highest quality educational instruction to propel their career trajectories.”
The College of Communication and Information’s online graduate program in information technology was ranked No. 21 in the category of computer information technology. The Master of Science degree is offered by the college’s School of Information.
“This program prepares students for leadership in an area of strategic emphasis, as identified by the Florida Board of Governors,” said Kathleen Burnett, director of the School of Information. “Graduates acquire a solid foundation in the technical skills and management expertise to pursue professional positions in large-scale data management, technology and network management, user-centered design and web design and administration. This degree program is a relatively new addition to the rich offerings of the School of Information.”
The College of Nursing’s online graduate program made considerable strides, reaching No. 54 from its previous position of No. 87.
“We are delighted with the U.S. News & World Report ranking for our online master of science in nursing program,” said Judith McFetridge-Durdle, dean of the College of Nursing. “This ranking is up significantly from last year and speaks to the efforts of our faculty to continuously improve our program offerings. This ranking will raise the national profile of the College of Nursing and allow us to continue to attract excellent students.”
The online bachelor’s programs took the greatest leap in the rankings, reaching No. 34, up from No. 161 last year. Online undergraduate degree programs include computer science, criminology, social science, and public safety and security.
The methodology for assessing online programs included factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, peer reputation and admissions selectivity.
For a complete list of the U.S. News & World Report online graduate rankings, http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.