23 of 27 Institutions Ranked in Top 25 are UPCEA Members

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 8, 2021) — UPCEA, the association for college and university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, is pleased to congratulate the many UPCEA members recognized in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings.

 

U.S. News rankings include more than 1,600 online programs, covering bachelor’s and graduate programs across a variety of fields. The U.S. News rankings focus on programs designed to be completely online, excluding schools and programs that are online temporarily due to the pandemic. Using information provided by participating institutions, the ranking methodologies include factors such as student services and technology, student engagement, and faculty credentials and training.

 

“UPCEA members continue to innovate and provide incredible online experiences for faculty and students,” said Julie Uranis, Vice President of Online and Strategic Initiatives for UPCEA. “Many leaders from these same institutions are also sharing their knowledge and lessons learned at the completely virtual 2021 Summit for Online Leadership and Administration next week. Our members are not only leading successful online enterprises but they are doing great things in support of their institutions through the most challenging of circumstances!” 

 

“We at the University of Illinois Chicago are proud of our U.S. News and World Report ranking because it highlights our faculty’s long-standing commitment to teaching high-quality and student-focused online degree programs,” said Dara Crowfoot, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation, UIC Extended Campus at the University of Illinois Chicago. “When the pandemic hit, the faculty from our online programs stepped up to mentor and train faculty who had to move their campus courses online. This same kind of powerful collaboration happens across our online programs, which meet monthly to share best practices in online teaching.”

 

Twenty-three of the twenty-seven Top 25 ranked institutions are members of UPCEA:

 

1 – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2 – University of Illinois at Chicago

3 – University of Florida

4 – The Ohio State University

4 – Oregon State University Ecampus

6 – Arizona State University

7 – University of Arizona

8 – University at Buffalo – SUNY

8 – CUNY School of Professional Studies, Graduate Center of the City University of New York

10 – Colorado State University – Global Campus

10 – Pennsylvania State University – World Campus

10 – University of Georgia

14 – North Carolina State University

14 – University of Central Florida

14 – University of Missouri

14 – University of Oklahoma

19 – George Washington University

21 – Indiana University – Online

21 – Loyola University Chicago

21 – University of Arkansas

21 – University of Massachusetts – Amherst

21 – Utah State University

21 – West Texas A&M University

 

“The University of Florida is showing the world and its peer research institutions what a modern research university is capable of when it embraces new forms of undergraduate learning pathways, all while remaining true to its ideals and commitments to academic excellence,” said Evangeline Cummings, Assistant Provost and Director of UF Online at University of Florida. “I’m proud that the University of Florida now welcomes learners worldwide to earn a UF bachelor’s degree taught entirely by UF faculty and fully-supported by an in-house UF campus-wide team.”

 

Congratulations to all of the UPCEA members recognized in this year’s rankings! 

 

“UPCEA member institutions have not only persevered, but triumphed over some of the most challenging conditions in the history of higher education,” said Bob Hansen, CEO of UPCEA. “I’m extremely proud to see so many of them receive this well-deserved recognition by U.S. News & World Report.”