VCSU program gets high ranking

Valley City State University’s online Master of Education program was ranked as a top program in the second annual edition of Top Online Education Program rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Appearing in the Best Online Graduate Education Programs, VCSU’s Master of Education earned the No. 22 spot of 143 and is the only program offered by a North Dakota college or university to be ranked in this category.

These rankings were created in response to the high demand for graduate education provided in a flexible manner.

“VCSU can rightfully be proud of the new tradition that has emerged with two consecutive years of being ranked in this category. It illustrates the consistency and strong academic quality and rigor within VCSU’s Master of Education program and the national reputation the program has earned,” said Dr. Steve Shirley, president of VCSU. “VCSU is committed to this program which is highly accessible, is of high quality, and meets the needs of education professionals throughout North Dakota and beyond. This latest national recognition is a clear sign of that commitment and success.”

This is the second year U.S. News has rated online programs. Expanding upon its ratings that were launched a year ago, the 2013 Best Online Education Programs is the most extensive evaluation of U.S. online degree programs ever published. For the first time, there are overall numeric rankings that take into account admissions selectivity, student engagement, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology.

In order to be considered for the rankings, online degree programs needed to meet the definition of a distance education program similar to the U.S. Department of Education’s, which states that all required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses that incorporate Internet-based learning technologies by students who are separated from the instructor. For more information about the rankings methodology, go to http://www.usnews.com/onlinemeth.

For more information on the U.S. News Top Online Education Program rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com/education/online-educa tion.

Tags: community, education