2023 Best Online Programs Ranking Includes FL Schools: U.S. News

FLORIDA — Twenty-one bachelor’s and dozens of master’s programs at accredited universities in Florida are ranked among the 2023 Best Online Programs released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The University of Florida once again topped this year's list at No. 1 for bachelor's programs. Another Florida-based institution, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Worldwide, moved down one from its previous ranking to tie with the University of Illinois—Chicago at No. 2.

Some colleges have strength in a specific major. For example, Arizona State University and the University of Florida were rated as the No. 1 schools for the Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs.

There is also a ranking for Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Programs. Pennsylvania State University—World Campus emerged in the top in this ranking, as well, tied with Oregon State University and the University of Central Florida at No. 1.

The rankings are designed for people who want to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but need the flexibility to complete the coursework online. U.S. News is the only media organization that ranks online degrees at the program rather than school level.

U.S. News ranked programs in eight disciplines. Programs in Florida that made the grade are:

Bachelor’s Degree

• University of Florida, Gainesville, No. 1
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, No. 2
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 8
• Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, No. 35
• University of North Florida, Jacksonville, No. 39
• University of West Florida, Pensacola, No. 42
• Florida International University, Miami, No. 60
• Chipola College, Marianna, No. 65
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, No. 65
• Pensacola State College, Pensacola, No. 74
• St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, No. 95
• Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, No. 124
• Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, No. 129
• Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, No. 139
• Lynn University, Boca Raton, No. 139
• Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, No. 209
• Baptist College of Florida, Graceville, No. 267
• Everglades University, Boca Raton, No. 272-359
• Florida Southern College, Lakeland, No. 272-359
• Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, No. 272-359
• South Florida State College, Avon Park, No. 272-359

Master’s Programs-MBA

• University of Florida (Warrington), Gainesville, No. 4
• University of South Florida (Muma), Tampa, No. 19
• Florida International University, Miami, No. 44
• Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 44
• University of Miami (Herbert Business School), Coral Gables, No. 44
• Florida Southern College Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, Lakeland, No. 51
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, No. 95
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, Daytona Beach, No. 102
• University of West Florida, Pensacola, No. 62
• Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, No. 181
• Nova Southeastern University, Davie, No. 220
• Florida A&M University School of Business and Industry, Tallahassee, No. 226
• Everglades University, Boca Raton, No. 261-344
• Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, No. 261-344
• Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, No. 261-344
• Lynn University, Boca Raton, No. 261-344

Business, Non-MBA

• Florida International University, Miami, No. 21
• Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 21
• University of Florida (Warrington), Gainesville, No. 31
• University of Miami (Herbert Business School), Coral Gables, No. 45
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, No. 52
• University of West Florida, Pensacola, No. 57
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, Daytona Beach, No. 60
• Stetson University, DeLand, No. 87
• Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, No. 100
• Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, No. 144
• Nova Southeastern University, Davie, No. 144
• Everglades University, Boca Raton, No. 160-211
• Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, No. 160-211

Criminal Justice/Criminology

• Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 5
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 13
• Florida International University, Miami, No. 14
• Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, Fort Lauderdale, No. 54
• University of West Florida ,Pensacola, No. 63
• Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, No. 72-95
• Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, No. 72-95

Education

• University of Florida, Gainesville, No. 1
• Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 25 Florida International University
• Florida International University, Miami, No. 43
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, No. 52
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 58
• University of North Florida, Jacksonville, No. 58
• University of South Florida, Tampa, No. 74
• Florida Southern College, Lakeland, No. 132
• University of Miami, Coral Gables, No. 132
• University of West Florida, Pensacola, No. 142
• Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, No. 227
• Nova Southeastern University (Fischler), Davie, No. 227
• Lynn University, Boca Raton, No. 253-329

Engineering

• University of Florida, Gainesville, No. 12
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, Daytona Beach, No. 17
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 37
• Florida International University, Miami, No. 44
• University of South Florida, Tampa, No. 47
• Florida A&M University/Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 62

Information Technology Programs

• Florida State University, Tallahassee, No. 5
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 27
• University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, Pensacola, No. 39
• Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, No. 41
• Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, No. 48

Nursing

• University of Central Florida, Orlando, No. 10
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, No. 31
• Nova Southeastern University Ron & Kathy Assaf College of Nursing, Fort Lauderdale, No. 68
• Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, No. 102
• Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, No. 107
• University of West Florida, Pensacola, No. 124
• Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, No. 138

U.S. News evaluated some 1,832 programs — the highest in the history of the rankings — to arrive at the 2023 list. Of those, 1,730 were ranked.

Online learning increased in popularity at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. News noted, but many of the institutions whose programs are ranked were ahead of the curve and had offered online programs for years.

Most of those evaluated offer degree completion programs that give students who have completed some of the requirements the flexibility to complete their degrees, according to Eric Brooks, the lead data analyst at U.S. News.

“The methodology is developed with those students in mind, setting these rankings apart from those that are focused on recent high school graduates pursuing higher education for the first time,” Brooks said in a news release.

While the methodologies are different for each discipline, they all incorporate metrics specific to online learning.

The online bachelor’s level ranking does not use standardized tests, instead relying on other factors such as faculty credentials and training, services and technologies available to students, student engagement and expert opinion on the academic quality of programs.

Master’s degree programs, in addition to these criteria, are also ranked based on student excellence. Blended learning programs — a combination of both face-to-face and distance instruction — are not included in the rankings.