U.S. News Ranks Scranton’s Online Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best

Jan 13, 2016

U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Online Programs ranked The University of Scranton’s MBA program No. 72 in the nation and its graduate program in education No. 73 in lists published Jan. 12. U.S. News ranked American online graduate-level programs in the categories of business, MBA, education, engineering, nursing, criminal justice and computer information technology.

The University offers online MBA degrees in general business, accounting, enterprise resource planning, healthcare management, international business and operations management; and a Master of Science degree in the education fields of curriculum and instruction and educational administration (K-12), in addition to a non-degree administration certification program.

Scranton’s online MBA program was among only four Jesuit colleges and 15 colleges in Pennsylvania ranked. Scranton’s online graduate program in education was among 10 Jesuit universities and 16 colleges in Pennsylvania ranked by U.S. News.

This is the fifth consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs in education and MBA among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times.

For the 2016 Best Online Education Programs ranking, U.S. News reviewed statistical information submitted by schools. The ranking criteria differed by category. The criteria used by U.S. News to rank MBA programs included student engagement (28 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation, collaborative coursework, course evaluation requirements and other factors. U.S. News ranking criteria also included admission selectivity (25 percent); peer reputation score (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (11 percent); and student services and technology (11 percent).

For online graduate programs in education, the ranking was based on student engagement (35 percent), which includes graduation rates, class size, retention rates and best practices such as accreditation from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council and collaborative coursework requirements, among other factors. Other criteria included: student services and technology (20 percent); admissions selectivity (15 percent); faculty credentials and training (15 percent); and peer reputation score (15 percent).

For technology, recruitment and marketing support, the University partners with Bisk Education for online graduate education degree programs and Wiley for the online MBA degree program and its master’s degrees in accountancy, human resources and health administration. The University online graduate degree programs in accountancy, human resources and health administration, as well as certificate programs were not ranked by U.S. News.

In other rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, the University was among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 22 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 8 in the 2016 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook.

The 2016 Best Online Education Programs can be viewed at usnews.com.

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