U of A Online Bachelor's Degree Programs Rise in U.S. News Rankings

From left, three degree recipients represent a small number of the online degrees available: Mazie Johnson, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in general business, Marcus Ibarra, who earned a Master of Science in Engineering, and Tamla Heminger, who earned a Master of Education in educational technology.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Bachelor’s degree programs delivered online by the University of Arkansas experienced a jump in the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the 2016 best online programs. U of A online master’s degree programs in engineering and education also continued to rank well.

U.S. News ranked the U of A’s online bachelor’s degree programs No. 49 nationally among the 288 ranked institutions and No. 32 among public institutions. The programs honored include a bachelor’s degree in human resource and workforce development and a bachelor’s degree completion in nursing from the College of Education and Health Professions, as well as a bachelor’s degree in general business from the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

“I would like to thank our faculty and staff, as well as the staff at Global Campus, who work hard to ensure our online programs serve students well,” said Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “We don’t do what we do to increase our rankings, but we appreciate the recognition that comes with our efforts to improve the quality of education our students receive. Over the years, our bachelor’s degree program in human resource and workforce development has given many graduates the opportunity to advance in their chosen fields. Our growth in nursing programs offered online helps address the nationwide nursing shortage that will persist as baby boomers continue to retire in large numbers.”

U of A online bachelor’s degree programs ranked No. 148 nationally in 2015. While the human resource and workforce development undergraduate program has existed since 1996, the other two online bachelor’s degree programs were added within the last three years.

Graduate online programs in engineering and education also ranked well.

From the College of Engineering, the master’s degree programs in engineering and electrical engineering ranked No. 33 nationally, among 82 programs ranked. They stand at No. 25 among public institutions.

“The College of Engineering is pleased to see that our commitment to a quality online engineering program is once again reflected in these rankings,” said John English, dean of engineering. “Ultimately, the success of our students matters the most. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ed Pohl, who directs the online Master of Science in Engineering program, we can offer an affordable and accessible resource for engineers who want to further their education. Highly trained engineers are always in demand, and the college is proud that we are providing this service.”

The College of Education and Health Profession’s graduate education programs ranked No. 53 among 248 ranked online programs and 43rd among public institutions. Graduate education degrees delivered online are master’s and doctoral degrees in adult and lifelong learning, master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, a master’s degree in educational technology, master’s and doctoral degrees in human resource and workforce development education, an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, a master’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in special education.

Graduate nursing programs offered online ranked 82nd nationally, among 147 ranked programs. The U of A ranked No. 54 among public institutions. Programs offered online include a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs.

All degree programs delivered online are showcased on the University of Arkansas ONLINE website.

The university is committed to providing high-quality online programs by participating in initiatives such as the Quality Matters Program, a nationally known nonprofit program of Maryland Online Inc. This faculty-centered program provides training for faculty and staff members to design online courses based on national education standards and provides a peer review process for courses.

About the Global Campus: The University of Arkansas Global Campus supports academic units in the development and delivery of online and distance education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, access to national distance education organizations, and assistance with strategic academic program development, recruiting and marketing.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.