OSU earns 10th straight top-10 national ranking for online education
CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University has been ranked one of the nation’s 10 best online education providers for the 10th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report — an accomplishment no other institution in the country can claim.
The list, published Wednesday, ranks Oregon State No. 4 out of nearly 350 higher education institutions in the category of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. The university received its highest marks based on faculty expertise and its ability to prepare those instructors to teach classes designed specifically for the online environment.
Oregon State Ecampus, the university’s online education unit, partners with more than 1,200 OSU faculty members to develop and deliver more than 100 programs online, including 47 bachelor’s degrees.
“Oregon State’s success in online education is the result of highly collaborative relationships throughout the university community,” said Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy. “I’m pleased to see OSU again recognized as a model for excellence in online teaching and learning as we deliver on our land grant mission to offer accessible, high-quality education to learners throughout Oregon and beyond.”
More than 11,000 OSU students learned exclusively online last fall, accounting for over 30% of the student body. Ecampus — in partnership with academic advisors, administrators and faculty from all 11 OSU colleges as well as the Honors College and Graduate School — serves students in all 50 states and nearly 60 countries.
One of those students was John Dusek, a recent graduate who earned bachelor’s degrees in horticulture and sustainability online. He owns and operates a greenhouse in central Michigan, and his Ecampus coursework provided tangible, hands-on knowledge that enables him to positively impact his community.
“I am better at horticulture since going back to school. I produce higher quality plants at a lower cost while producing less pollution, less nutrient runoff and much less pesticide use,” Dusek said. “My experience at OSU has given me the tools to be able to say, ‘You can do something, and your actions are super, super important.’”
U.S. News & World Report also awarded four additional top-25 rankings for OSU:
- No. 2 – Best Online Psychology Bachelor’s Programs.
- No. 3 – Best Online Business Bachelor’s Programs.
- No. 13 – Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.
- No. 22 – Best Online Master’s in Engineering Programs.
Oregon State first made the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs top 10 in 2015. Since then, the university’s online-only enrollment, the number of programs offered online and OSU faculty teaching Ecampus classes have all more than doubled. University leadership sees opportunity for even more ambitious growth throughout the decade; OSU’s newly approved strategic plan sets a target of increasing online-only enrollment to 30,000 by 2030.
“As the student demand for high-quality online learning opportunities grows, Oregon State continues to demonstrate its leadership in delivering innovative and engaging learning solutions that meet student and workforce needs around the world,” said Vice Provost Lisa L. Templeton of OSU’s Division of Educational Ventures.
U.S. News evaluated the online bachelor’s programs of 339 higher education institutions based on four factors: student engagement; faculty credentials and training; student services and technologies; and peer assessment. The full rankings are available online at http://www.usnews.com/online-education.
About Oregon State University Ecampus: As a national leader in online education, Oregon State Ecampus provides access to high-quality learning experiences that transform the lives of students in Oregon and around the world. OSU Ecampus — a part of the Division of Educational Ventures — delivers more than 100 degrees, programs and microcredentials and over 1,800 classes online and in a hybrid format. Learn more at ecampus.oregonstate.edu.
