La Verne’s Online Undergraduate Programs Top Rated for 3rd Straight Year
The University of La Verne provides the best online undergraduate programs in California, a distinction held by the institution three consecutive years through U.S. News & World Report.
The online ranking organization released its 2016 national ranking of Online Education in January, recognizing La Verne as having the 24th best online bachelor’s degree programs in the nation and No. 1 in the state. The list included 300 institutions.
“It is an honor to be recognized for three straight years as the institution offering the best online programs in the state, and the top 10 percent in the nation,” said University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman. “This is a testament to our dedicated faculty and staff, and our mission to provide a distinctive and relevant education that is accessible to all students.”
For its 2016 undergraduate program rating, U.S. News ranked 219 colleges and universities. Institutions with scores in the bottom 25 percent did not receive a published numerical ranking and 10 were unranked due to having fewer than 10 students.
Accredited colleges and universities considered for the report offered bachelor’s degree programs through the Internet during the 2015-2016 academic year. Institutions were ranked based on student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and peer reputation. Student engagement included factors such as graduation rates, assessment and class size. Institutions providing training for faculty to work with distance learners, and having faculty with tenure or at least a master’s degree also earned higher points. For the third category, U.S. News considered institutions with the best technological infrastructure and support for students in areas such as tech support and live tutoring. Peer reputation was based on ratings from top college administrators and academics.
La Verne placed No. 5 among California institutions for U.S. News’ 2016 Best Online MBA Programs. The category included 228 colleges and universities.
The organization ranked universities based on the same categories as the undergraduate list, but added admissions selectivity as another factor.
“We take pride in providing a quality online education for everyone striving for a better future, from the working-class adult to the stay-at-home caretaker,” said David Smith, Dean of Regional and Online Campuses. “The quality of our programs comes from our faculty, who bring real-world experience to the virtual classroom, the highly interactive nature of the courses and our relevant curriculum. We are pleased to be recognized for this.”
First launched in 2000, La Verne’s online programs provide students the opportunity to receive a college education without the need of attending classes at a physical campus. The undergraduate degrees presently offered include a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degrees in Organizational Management and Public Administration. Graduate programs include a Master’s in Business Administration, Master of Science in Leadership and Management and a Master of Science in Child Development. Beyond the coursework, enrolled students receive support from university faculty and staff who are dedicated to the online programs.
For more than 30 years, U.S. News & World Report has compiled annual ratings of the country’s quality institutions of higher education. Because of the reputation it has established, its listings are utilized by many college counselors and admissions offices.
The complete list of 2016 U.S. News Online rankings is available at www.usnews.com/education/online-education.
