UF, Embry-Riddle nab top spots on US News list
The University of Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have the best online bachelor’s degree programs in the country, according to a new set of U.S. News and World Report rankings released Tuesday.
The two Florida schools shared the top spot on the publication’s annual list, with Embry-Riddle claiming that distinction for the second consecutive year. The rankings are based on measures like student engagement, faculty engagement and access to services like financial aid and career guidance.
UF trumpeted the rankings in a press release on Tuesday morning, which they said “symbolize UF’s upward trajectory.”
“Online education is not simply a matter of transferring in-person classes to an online format. Rather, our nationally recognized faculty and staff have established an impactful, fulfilling and supportive online educational environment that results in exceptional student outcomes,” Provost Joe Glover said in the release.
Embry-Riddle also celebrated the news on Tuesday, noting the school has ranked first or second every year since 2016 on the publication’s annual rankings of online programs.
“Embry-Riddle’s top rankings for online bachelor’s programs reflect our commitment to making quality education accessible around the world and at any point in a person’s career,” university president P. Barry Butler said in the release.
Several other Florida schools also appeared on the list, with the University
of Central Florida tying for seventh with Ohio State University and the University of Arizona. Daytona State College shared the 35th spot with three other schools.
UCF’s press release said this year’s ranking was it’s best-ever on the annual list, adding that 83% of its students took at least one online or blended class last semester.
“We have been dedicated to high-impact, high-value online programs for 26 years and remain focused on innovating to provide students from every walk of life with flexible options for earning degrees that fuel their futures,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said in the school’s press release. “We are thrilled to have cracked the top 10 in the national rankings — rankings that highlight and validate the work of our top-notch faculty and staff in their pursuit of high-quality online learning.”
U.S. News also ranked online programs in specific areas and a few Florida schools cracked the top ten on those lists, as well. Embry-Riddle and UF nabbed the top two spots on the publication’s list of best programs for veterans, while UCF shared the eighthplace ranking with George Washington University.
Among business programs, UF shared the second-place spot with Pennsylvania State University and UCF tied for eighth with four other schools. And on the publication’s ranking of psychology programs, UF shared second place with three other schools and UCF tied for sixth place with Arizona State University.