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

MICHIGAN — Nine bachelor’s and 57 master’s programs at accredited universities in Michigan are ranked among the 2023 Best Online Programs released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

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 Michigan that made the grade are:

• Siena Heights University (Rank 30)
• Western Michigan University ( Rank 104)
• Central Michigan University (Rank 124)
• Walsh College (Rank 129)
• Northwood University (Rank 139)
• Madonna University (Rank 186)
• Andrews University (Rank 223)
• University of Michigan--Flint (242)
• Oakland University ( Rank No. 272-359)

Master’s Programs

MBA

• University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Rank 18)
• Kettering University (Rank 110)
• Ferris State University (Rank 115)
• University of Michigan--Dearborn (Rank 132)
• Central Michigan University (Rank 142)
• Andrews University (Rank 169)
• Northwood University (Rank 169)
• Oakland University (Rank 197)
• Walsh College (Rank 234)
• Lawrence Technological University (Rank 245)
• Siena Heights University (Rank 255)
• Adrian College (Rank 261-344)
• Madonna University (Rank 261-344)

Business, Non-MBA

• Michigan State University (Rank 6)
• Eastern Michigan University (Rank 60)
• University of Michigan--Dearborn (Rank 66)
• Adrian College (Rank 75)
• Northwood University (Rank 75)
• Kettering University (Rank 97)
• Andrews University (Rank 121)
• Walsh College (Rank 144)
• Madonna University (Rank No. 160-211)

Computer Information Technology

• Ferris State University (Rank 41)
• University of Michigan--Dearborn (Rank 46)
• Western Michigan University (Rank 53)
• Lawrence Technological University (Rank 61)
• Central Michigan University (Rank 70)

Criminal Justice/Criminology

• Michigan State University (Rank 6)
• Wayne State University (Rank 39)
• Madonna University (Rank 69)
• Ferris State University (Rank No. 72-95)

Education

• Michigan State University (Rank 10)
• Western Michigan University (Rank 52)
• Central Michigan University (Rank 109)
• Wayne State University (Rank 157)
• Eastern Michigan University (Rank 169)
• Oakland University (Rank 196)
• University of Michigan--Dearborn (Rank 204)
• University of Michigan--Flint (Rank 231)
• Andrews University (Rank No. 253-329)
• Northern Michigan University (Rank No. 253-329)

Engineering

• University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Rank 6)
• Michigan Technological University (Rank 44)
• Lawrence Technological University (Rank 57)
• Michigan State University (Rank 65)
• University of Michigan--Dearborn (Rank 72)
• Kettering University (Rank 83)
• Oakland University (Rank No. 86-113)

Nursing

• University of Detroit Mercy (Rank 37)
• Ferris State University (Rank 102)
• University of Michigan--Flint (Rank 102)
• Western Michigan University (Rank 109)
• Eastern Michigan University (Rank No. 141-185)
• Michigan State University (Rank No. 141-185)
• Oakland University, (Rank No. 141-185)

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.