After months of campus closures and restrictions, the coronavirus pandemic has given new importance to online education and the flexibility it offers current and future university students.
While some colleges have temporarily moved online as an alternative to face-to-face learning in the midst of the pandemic, a new rating from the US News & World Report gives a nod to select schools and degree programs in Colorado that were specifically designed to be obtained online.
A total of 15 colleges and universities in Colorado have earned a place on the list of the best online programs of 2021, released on Tuesday by US News.
Aimed at those looking to complete or advance their education, the ranking assesses more than 1,600 online bachelor’s and master’s programs.
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The rating did not take into account schools or programs that were temporarily transferred online due to the pandemic, according to a US News statement. The list also does not include blended learning programs that combine physical classroom courses with online courses
Education.
To determine which schools and programs are on this year’s list, US News looked at overall academic quality in a variety of disciplines. In addition to online baccalaureate degrees, US News ranked master’s programs in business, education, nursing, engineering, computer information technology and criminal justice. Online MBA programs have been separated from other business courses and classified separately.
New this year, US News added ratings for online bachelor’s programs in business and psychology.
The methodologies for determining the best programs vary according to the specialty. Learn more about the methodologies used at USNews.com.
Here’s a look at how other schools in Colorado fared on this year’s list:
Colorado State University – Global Campus
- Ranked 91st in the Best Online Bachelor Programs
Colorado State University
- Ranked 31st in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Information Technology
- Ranked 62nd in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Engineering
- Ranked 77th in the Best Online Master’s Business Programs (not MBA)
- Ranked 86 in the Best Online Bachelor Programs
Colorado State University – Global Campus
- Ranked 39th in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Information Technology
- Ranked 67th in the Best Online Master’s Business Programs (not MBA)
- Ranked 75th in the Best Online Criminal Justice Master’s Programs
- Ranked 76th in the Best Online Master’s Education Programs
- Ranked 79th in the Best Online MBA Programs
Colorado State University – Pueblo
- Ranked 54th in the Best Online MBA Programs
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Ranked 17th in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Nursing
University of Colorado – Boulder
- Ranked 53rd in the Best Online Master’s Business Programs (not MBA)
- Ranked between 74th and 97th position (tied with other colleges) in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Engineering
Colorado University – Colorado Springs
- Ranked 32nd in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Nursing
- Ranked 48th in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Engineering
- Ranked 72nd in the Best Online MBA Programs
- Ranked 79th in the Best Online Bachelor Programs
- Ranked 79th in the Best Online Criminal Justice Master’s Programs
- Ranked 85th in the best online master’s degree educational programs
University of Colorado – Denver
- Ranked 71st in the Best Online Criminal Justice Master’s Programs
- Ranked 77th in the Best Online Master’s Education Programs
Denver University
- Ranked 39th (tied with CSU) in Best Online Master’s Information Technology Programs
- Ranked 78th among the best online MBA programs
- Ranked 79th in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs (link to CU CO Springs)
University of Northern Colorado
- Ranked 77th in the Best Online Bachelor Programs
- Ranked 79th in the Best Online Master’s Education Programs
Colorado Technical University
- Ranked 45th in the Best Online Master’s Business Programs (not MBA)
- Ranked 51st in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Information Technology
- Ranked 52nd in the best online MBA programs
- Ranked 67th in the Best Online Bachelor Programs
- Ranked 59th to 74th (tied with other colleges) on Best Online Master’s Criminal Justice Programs
- Ranked between 74th and 97th position (tied with other colleges) in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Engineering
- Ranked 127th in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Nursing
Colorado Christian University
- Ranked 61st among the best online baccalaureate programs
Colorado Mesa University
- Ranked 125th in the Best Online Master’s Programs in Nursing
Regis University
- Ranked between 59th and 74th (in tie with other colleges) in the Best Online Masters Programs in Information Technology
Western Colorado University
- Ranked 70th in the Best Online Master’s Education Programs
Florida-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University returned to the top spot this year among the Best Online Bachelor Programs. For MBAs, Carnegie Mellon University tied with the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill for first place.
Meanwhile, Columbia University had the highest rated master’s program in computer information technology. Tied first among the best Online Master’s programs in Nursing were Rush University and the University of South Carolina.
Finally, the No. 1 master’s programs in education and engineering are at the University of Florida and Columbia University, respectively.
See the full 2021 list of the Best Online Programs here.