Even if they don't have the heft or depth of a Red Dead Redemption 2, the best online games can fill up a work or school break.They're perfect for when you're simply trying to kill some time. TheBestSchools.org provides in-depth rankings of degree programs as well as of colleges and universities. We do this across many different schools and programs so that you can find the course of study that is right for you.
Over the last 20 years, the range of online degree programs available in a wide variety of subjects has exploded. Over this time, online degrees have grown from being an experimental form of distance learning, to being equally accepted as in-person degrees by students, instructors, and employers.
It's a good thing there are so many online degrees to choose from. Not all online degrees are similar, and many offer distinctive trade offs when compared to one another. Some online degrees are extremely affordable. Others are highly flexible or offer accelerated coursework. And still others carry nationally-known names that look good on your resume.
With that said, the vast number of online degree options today can also be overwhelming.
Gaining admission to an undergraduate or graduate program can be an intensive process by itself. Choosing academic programs of interest shouldn't be.
Choosing an Online Degree
OnlineCourseReport's veteran staff has well over a decade of college ranking experience and includes seasoned educators, researchers, and journalists. Over our time following the rapid developments within online education, we've sought to hone our methods for ranking online degree programs to better align with what actually works for real students.
Our Ranking Methodology:
The most current research points to the fact that a large portion of online students are nontraditional and adult learners. While being a 'traditional' or 'nontraditional' student shouldn't entirely dictate which degree program you choose, many programs have been built to accommodate the unique needs of working adult students.
While we certainly look at academic quality and other support measures, the overwhelming number of online students for whom flexibility and unique support measures are important has helped us to hone our methodology over time.
While our specific methodology may vary depending on the precise ranking, we take note of several metrics within each of the following categories for every ranking we complete:
- Academic Quality: metrics in this category look at high admissions standards, low class sizes, special program accreditation, overall teaching and research ranks for a given school, and other related metrics.
- Flexibility: metrics in this category look for aspects of online degrees that make them particularly well suited to your needs and lifestyle. This may include accelerated courses, the ability to proceed part-time, the ability to test out of courses, asynchronous courses, generous transfer policies, and other elements.
- Affordability: metrics in this category include the percentage of students who receive financial aid, the average amount of financial aid (for undergraduates), the out-of-state tuition rate (when applicable), special online tuition rates, and other affordability boosting elements presented by the program.
Rankings of the Best Online Degrees
We've applied our ranking methodology to a wide range of academic disciplines, degree levels, and types of schools. Check out some of our most popular rankings below. Don't see what you're looking for? Search for a degree in the widget to the left or contact us.
General Course Rankings
General Online Degree Rankings
Online Business Degree Rankings
Online Counseling Degree Rankings
Online Criminal Justice Degree Rankings
Online Education Degree Rankings
Online Health Care Degree Rankings
Online Humanities Degree Rankings
Online Management Degree Rankings
Online Religious Degree Rankings
Online Technology Degree Rankings
Ranking Website Tier List
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