By TODD GOTTULA
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney is tied at No. 25 in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
The rankings, released Tuesday, focus on graduate indebtedness, course delivery and academic and career support made available to students remotely.
“Online education has become very competitive, so for UNK to be ranked so high is very impressive. The ranking says a lot for UNK, the quality faculty we have teaching online and resources available here,” said Gloria Vavricka, director of eCampus.
The magazine’s rankings score student engagement and satisfaction, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology. Other listings examine how selective a school is in admitting qualified candidates.
UNK ranked No. 11 for its faculty credentials and training, receiving the high mark for how well it prepares instructors to teach remotely.
“Our online faculty is so dedicated, constantly honing their skills and looking for new and better ways to connect with students,” said Sheryl Crow, associate professor of teacher education and College of Edcuation associate dean. “We have very high standards and are dedicated to making our online courses engaging and rigorous.”
UNK has 874 students enrolled in its online graduate education program.
“We take our online programs very seriously, and this affirms what we are doing here,” Crow said of the U.S. News ranking.
2018 Best Online Graduate Education Programs
Rank Institution
1 Clemson University
2 Creighton University
2 University of Florida
4 University of North Texas
5 Northern Illinois University
5 University of Houston
5 Utah State University
8 Penn State University
8 University at Albany
8 University of Georgia
8 University of Massachusetts – Lowell
12 University of Nebraska – Lincoln
13 Auburn University
13 Florida State University
15 North Carolina State University
15 University at Buffalo
15 University of Utah
18 East Carolina University
18 Ohio University
18 University of Iowa
21 Montclair State University
21 Purdue University
21 San Diego State University
21 University of North Carolina
25 Pittsburg State University
25 University of Illinois
25 University of Nebraska at Kearney
28 Sam Houston State University
28 University of Kansas
28 University of Pittsburgh
31 George Washington University
31 Michigan State University
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Writer: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.edu
Source: Gloria Vavricka, Director of eCampus, 308.865.8390, vavrickag@unk.edu
