Scranton’s Online Programs Among Best in U.S.
The University of Scranton’s online MBA and master’s degree programs in business and education were ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s in its 2018 “Best Online Graduate Programs” published Jan. 9.U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 “Best Online Graduate Programs” ranked The University of Scranton’s online master’s degree programs in business (excluding MBA) at No. 83; education at No. 101 and MBA at No. 108 in the nation.. U.S. News published on Jan. 9 its ranking of America’s “Best Online Graduate Programs” in the categories of business, MBA, education, engineering, nursing and other disciplines. U.S. News separated the online business program rankings from the online MBA program to “better serve students,” allowing them to make more accurate discipline-specific comparisons.
Scranton offers online MBA degrees in general business, accounting, enterprise resource planning, healthcare management, human resources, international business and operations management; master’s degrees in accountancy, finance, health administration, health informatics and human resources, as well as master’s degree programs in the education fields of curriculum and instruction and educational administration (K-12), in addition to a non-degree administration certification program.
This is the seventh consecutive year that U.S. News ranked the University’s online programs among the best in the nation. The methodology used by U.S. News to determine the ranking has changed several times throughout the years.
Scranton’s online business programs were among only three Jesuit colleges and 12 colleges in Pennsylvania ranked. Scranton’s online MBA program was among only four Jesuit colleges and 19 colleges in Pennsylvania ranked. Scranton’s online graduate program in education was among seven Jesuit universities and 19 colleges in Pennsylvania ranked by U.S. News.
For the 2018 Best Online 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 business programs included student engagement (33 percent), which looked at graduation rates, class size, one-year retention rates, and best practices such as accreditation by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), collaborative coursework requirements, course evaluation requirements and other factors. The ranking criteria also included admission selectivity (20 percent); peer reputation score (20 percent); faculty credentials and training (13.5 percent); and student services and technology (13.5 percent).
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 by AACSB International, collaborative coursework requirements, course evaluation requirements and other factors. The 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 programs and its master’s degrees in accountancy, health administration, health informatics and human resources.
In other rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, Scranton has been among the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in the North” for 24 consecutive years. Scranton is ranked No. 6 in the 2018 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook. U.S. News also ranked Scranton’s programs in finance at No. 17, accounting at No. 17 and entrepreneurship at No. 22 in the country. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 18 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North.”
The 2018 Best Online Programs can be viewed at usnews.com.
