Feb 07, 2024
U.S. News Rankings for Specialty Areas
No. 1 — Instructional Media/Educational Technology
No. 2 — Curriculum and Instruction
No. 2 — Special Education
No. 3 — Educational Administration
According to U.S. News, “a master’s degree in education can help further careers in teaching, instructional design and educational administration.” Programs are ranked based on five main categories:
Engagement
Quality online graduate education programs grant aspiring teachers and educational administrators opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates to create an experience rewarding enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time.
Services and Technologies
Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources.
Faculty Credentials and Training
Strong online programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these instructors to teach distance learners.
Peer Assessment
A survey of high-ranking academic officials in education helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that statistics don’t capture.
Student Excellence
Student bodies entering with proven aptitudes, ambitions and accomplishments can handle the demands of rigorous coursework.
“This recognition is such an honor because the ranking reflects the truly outstanding work of our faculty and instructional designers," “As a result of their longstanding commitment to excellence in online education, students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend university have the opportunity to experience the best in undergraduate education. Engaging courses, designed and taught by experts, increases student achievement and persistence, and enables students from all walks of life to reach their potential.”
-Tina Smith-Bonahue, Associate Dean of academic and student affairs.
Combined with our extensive domain expertise and expansive research agenda, our efforts to develop tomorrow’s educators are transforming education in more ways than you can imagine
College leadership acknowledges the shared responsibility of our faculty, students, staff, alumni and partners for nine years of continued excellence in online programs. Dean Good noted the ranking is one aspect of how our exemplary work is demonstrated, but not a singular measure.