All About Online University Rankings

Are you considering obtaining a degree through online education? Are you worried that the education you might receive could be inferior to the education you might get at an on-campus learning institution? Although a lack of transparency in the past often prevented online colleges from reaching their full potential, online courses and degrees have grown to include some of the most prestigious colleges in the nation.

If you wondered how the growth of reputable online education has occurred, you might look to college rankings. Although many have disparaged college rankings because they claim the rankings are biased, the research involved in the more reputable rankings has pushed colleges to increase transparency and to offer more and better services in many cases.

Rankings vary by research methodology, as some rankings depend upon college resources while others focus on college students’ observations and reactions. The former method allows readers to learn more about a college through its admission rates, retention rates and graduation rates. Those rankings also point to financial aid possibilities, student-faculty ratios, accreditation and peer Web citations and/or scholarly citations.

Professional reviews, such as those contributed yearly by U.S. News and World Report or the Princeton Review, offer information about colleges by location, status, academic specialties and more. They even break down colleges by most students in sororities or fraternities, most merit aid and transfer students. Studies such as these can help you learn more about a school before ever setting foot on campus.

Student-rated rankings often cover more biased information that is influenced by the students’ experiences. You can learn more about the best beer-drinking schools or the toughest school standards through this route; however, you cannot be assured that the students think the same as you. Your opinion of a school might be entirely different after your enrollment and class attendance.

But, what about online courses and programs? How do you find rankings for schools that serve up their degrees online? One source that can help includes Online Education Database (OEDb). This resource provides information about online schools and their programs from across the country.

When you visit these reviews, be sure to check how the reviews are conducted and what they cover. You may learn that some review sites merely mirror other sites that actually do the legwork. In other cases, you may learn that some sites do not offer the information you need, so you’ll need to look elsewhere to find your answers. In still other cases, you may discover that some of the longer-running surveys will cover online courses – if not now, perhaps in the near future.

Online university rankings can provide you with information about a school that you may not learn otherwise. Use a number of rankings to compare results and to discover as much as possible about the schools you may want to attend. These rankings, more than any other resource, may help you make the best decision of your life.

The Most Popular Online Universities

According the our user selection data, the universities listed below are those that have the most interest from prospective students. You can click on each college's logo to request more information from that particular college.

University of Phoenix — Now the largest private university in North America, the University of Phoenix maintains nearly 200 convenient campus locations as well as one of the leading online learning formats to serve students anywhere at any time. University of Phoenix degree programs are designed in collaboration with academic and industry professionals to ensure quality, relevance and rigor.
Kaplan University — Kaplan University represents one of the largest accredited online colleges with degree programs available in a wide range of subject fields. Enjoy a vast library of resources, dedicated advisors and innovative learning techniques through Kaplan.
Ashford University — Benefit from one of the lewst program costs available online, the ability to transfer credits and the flexibility of online courses available 24 hours per day. Ashford University might represent your ideal choice for a college education if you're a working adult or if you have not completed your degree.
Capella University — As an accredited university, Capella University takes online learning seriously and, today, more than 28,100 professional adults attend Capella unversity online. Earn a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree and participate in certificate programs to maximize your personal and professional potential through innovative programs.
Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University offers online and campus-based bachelor's and master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing, College of Entrepreneurship and College of Liberal Arts. GCU is a small Christian University in Phoenix AZ as well as an NCAA division II school, and their online division offers substantial financial savings as well as a quality accredited education.
Liberty University — Liberty University now represents the world's largest evangelical Christian university both on campus and online. Earn an accelerated, accredited degree when and where you are — no night classes, no commuting. It's simple, flexible and of course, Christian.
Walden University — Founded in 1971 in Minneanapolis, Minnesota, Walden University's motto states their mission: "A higher degree. A higher purpose." The coursework offered at this university is designed with working adults in mind. Those who may previously have not had the time to attend class can now earn a degree online from Walden.
Westwood College — Advance in your career with over 25 diploma, associate, bachelor's and master's programs offered by Westwood university. Westwood offers a hands-on career-focused curriculum that more than 20,000 graduates have used to transform their lives.
DeVry University — DeVry University specializes in technology-based, job-training-oriented higher education, so its career-focused students can get the most out of any online coursework as they prepare to enter or advance in the job market. DeVry offers numerous degrees in business, computing, health, and more.
Boston University — A graduate education from Boston University is available to anyone who has Internet access, worldwide. Programs of study available at BU include music education, finance, marketing, project management, risk management, information systems, art education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, criminal justice, and more.
Everest University — Everest University offers flexible programs taught by qualified professionals with industry-specific expertise. Gain real-world knowledge and the practical insights that cannot be learned from any textbook as you train for a career or for career advancement online.
Strayer University — Strayer University offers an affordable online education that is convenient and supportive and filled with quality programs. Course work and lectures are presented by experienced faculty members who have first-hand knowledge of the workplace, so you'll be able to use your education immediately on the job.
American InterContinental University — AIU Online is the Web-based virtual campus of American InterContinental University, an international university with residential campuses located in Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; South Florida; Houston, Texas; and London, England. This university is dedicated to making a quality online education available to anyone with a passion for learning or a motivation to make their career dreams come true.