By: Marc Ransford—
Muncie, IN—Three Ball State University online programs finished in the top 25 in national rankings released recently by U.S. News & World Report.
Since U.S. News started ranking online programs six years ago, Ball State has always had degrees in the top 25. Those recognized in the 2019 “Best Online Programs” are:
- 13th – Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 13th – Graduate nursing
- 25th – Bachelor’s degrees
Each program improved from its 2018 ranking. The MBA climbed three spots, and the graduate nursing and bachelor’s offerings jumped 10 spots, respectively.
The report also recognized the university as a leader in reducing the cost of education for veterans through online programs.
In the report’s “Best Online Programs for Veterans” category, Ball State ranked 12th for graduate education programs and 20th for bachelor’s programs. Multiple education and bachelor’s degrees are grouped together in these rankings.
This year’s U.S. News rankings evaluated 1,545 online programs.
The publication also ranked Ball State’s online master’s in education programs 38th in the nation.
In 1999, Ball State offered its first online degree, a master’s in nursing. The university has a 20-year tradition of excellence and innovation in online education, according to Dr. Trudi Weyermann, assistant provost for learning initiatives.
Online courses at Ball State are developed and taught by faculty members who teach on the main campus. They work with an expert team of instructional consultants who understand best practices for online education.
Ball State also provides specialized services for online students. Among these are attentive advisers and concierge services to help students effectively and efficiently navigate their online college experience.
“What sets Ball State apart is its high level of commitment and dedication,” Weyermann said. “We make sure that our faculty and our students receive the support they need to succeed as online educators and online learners.”
The U.S. News rankings are compiled annually and take into account factors such as faculty credentials, student engagement (which includes retention and graduation rates), class size, peer reputation and the quality of the university’s student services and technology.
Further details about the rankings and how they were determined are available at the U.S. News website, www.usnews.com/online.
For more information about Ball State’s online degree programs, visit the university’s website at bsu.edu/online.
