Three of Ashland University’s online programs were recognized with high rankings in the prestigious U.S. News and World Report lists for Best Online Programs for 2019.
AU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) Online Program was ranked as the best private online program in Ohio as well as the 101st ranked program overall nationally among Best Online MBA Programs, while AU’s Online Bachelor’s Programs were rated as the third best private online programs in Ohio and the 173rd ranked programs overall nationally among Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. In addition, AU’s online Graduate Education Program was ranked as the 169th best Online Graduate Education Program in the nation.
“We are very proud that these three online programs have received recognition as outstanding programs and are all ranked among the top online programs in the country,” said Dr. Todd Marshall, AU’s interim provost. “Ashland University has embraced online learning and this has opened our doors to a more inclusive student body – from working professionals and stay-at-home individuals to those who may not be able to commute to a physical campus -- and we are proud to offer some of the best combinations of online programs available anywhere in the country today.”
Marshall said he is proud of the fact that Ashland’s online programs stress the same rigor as AU’s traditional classroom programs.
Dr. Elad Granot, dean of the Dauch College of Business and Economics, was pleased that the online MBA program was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the top private program in the state this year.
“A ranking as the top private college program in Ohio really validates what we are doing with our revamped online MBA program,” Granot said. “Ashland University and its Business school have remained true to our mission of delivering high-quality education to students both in class and online. These rankings reflect the quality of our programs as we pursue an even higher level of accreditation and academic quality.”
Dr. Donna Breault, dean of the Schar College of Education, said, “These rankings are not surprising. The College of Education has a long history of providing high quality graduate programs online. We anticipate even higher rankings now that we offer all of our M.Ed. and graduate license programs online.”
The Best Online MBA Programs ranking evaluated schools based solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed MBA programs using five categories --student engagement (28 percent), student excellence (25 percent), expert opinion (25 percent), faculty credentials and training (11 percent), and student services and technology (11 percent).
For the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs ranking, the U.S. News and World Report chose factors that weighed how these programs were being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed schools based on four general categories -- student engagement (35 percent), student services and technology (25 percent), faculty credentials and training (20 percent), and expert opinion (20 percent).
The Best Online Graduate Education Program’s ranking evaluated schools based solely on data related to their online graduate education program. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed Graduate Education programs using five categories -- student engagement (30 percent), student services and technologies (20 percent), expert opinion (20 percent), student excellence (15 percent), and faculty credentials and training (15 percent).
In addition to the online MBA program, Bachelor’s Program and Graduate Education programs, Ashland University offers graduate online programs in Doctorate of Nursing Practice as well as Corporate and Strategic Communications. Ashland University offers online bachelor’s degree programs in business, criminal justice, communication studies, multidisciplinary studies, and RN to BSN program.