The Best Online College in Each of America’s Fifty States
Regional campus-based schools across the United States are increasingly providing online degree programs as well.
Local employers often prefer to hire graduates from local colleges. Many students therefore prefer to attend a college that local employers easily recognize, a college that’s in their state or region.
At the same time, students increasingly prefer the convenience and flexibility of an online college. Fortunately, these days their state or region is likely to have a fine public or private school that offers the online degree they desire.
Enrolling in an online degree program from a regional college also makes it easier if the program requires some on-campus attendance, such as an on-campus orientation or an internship.
best-school-seal-2This article lists the best online college or university for each state. Some states have strong competition, while other states have a very small selection of colleges providing enough online degree programs to qualify for this list.
We based our selection of schools on the following factors: academic excellence, faculty strength, online teaching methods, reputation, awards, and the number of online degree programs offered.
The Best Online College for Each State
Texas
Texas Tech University(Lubbock, TX)
Texas Tech University (TTU), the flagship of the Texas Tech University System, provides about 300 programs of study, leading to an array of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.
TTU Worldwide eLearning offers an array of online bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs and graduate certificates. Some programs require campus visits.
Online classes include lectures, virtual meetings and threaded discussions.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education includes Texas Tech University in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity list.
Texas Tech University ranks #380 in the Forbes 2016 Top Colleges list and #154 in the Research Universities list. The university tied for #176 in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report list of National Universities and #93 in the Top Public Schools list.
Texas Tech University is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university also holds AACSB accreditation, among others.
Utah
Utah State University(Logan, UT)
Utah State University (USU), a coeducational, land-grant, space-grant university and the flagship of the Utah State University System, provides about 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through nine colleges.
Through USU Online, Utah State University provides online bachelor and master’s degrees and an associate degree in general studies. The school also provides certificates, endorsements and minors.
Most of the online classes use a semester schedule.
The school provides online students access to library resources, an online writing center, tutoring, and technical support.
Utah State University is included in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity list.
Utah State University ranks #324 in the Forbes 2016 Top Colleges list and #135 in the Research Universities list. Utah State University tied for #220 in the U.S. News & World Report 2017 list of National Universities and ranks #125 in the list of Top Public Schools.
Utah State University is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Vermont
Champlain College(Burlington, VT)
Champlain College, a private college and the fifth largest institute of higher education in Vermont, offers a variety of online programs, including 100-percent online degrees and professional certificates.
Bachelor’s degree options include business, computer science, cybersecurity, and health care.
The college provides master’s degrees in early childhood education, digital forensic management, law, mediation and applied conflict studies, and more.
Champlain College provides the courses in seven-week sessions.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, provides accreditation.
Princeton Review included Champlain College in its Best 378 Colleges 2014 list. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked Champlain College #14 in its 2014 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Colleges (North), #97 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and #131 for Best Online Graduate Business Programs.
Virginia
Liberty University Online(Lynchburg, VA)
Liberty University, a Christian-oriented school, is the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation. Its online division, Liberty University Online, offers more than 160 online degree programs.
Liberty university has been training Champions for Christ since 1971, and pioneering distance learning since 1985. Today, the university enrolls more than 90,000 students worldwide.
Liberty University Online offers more than 10 associate’s degrees, a variety of bachelor’s degrees, and 17 undergraduate minors. The university also provides a number of master’s degrees in topics including business, communications, counseling, cyber security, education, and more.
Liberty University Online also offers doctoral and certificate programs.
Students can complete many of the undergraduate and post-graduate degrees 100-percent online; however, some online programs require face-to-face class time.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides accreditation.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Liberty University #89 in its 2014 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities (South), #141 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, #122 for Best Online Graduate Business Programs, #97 for Best Online Graduate Education Programs, and #75 for Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.
Washington
Washington State University(Pullman, WA)
Washington State University (WSU), a public, non-profit university, offers one of the nation’s oldest and most-respected online degree programs.
WSU’s renowned professors teach and design the courses that are available completely online through the university’s Global Campus division.
WSU Global Campus offers a variety of online programs, including undergraduate degree programs in accounting, management, criminal justice, human development, humanities, social sciences, and psychology, and master degree programs in criminal justice, special education, agriculture, electric power engineering, and more.
The university also offers a number of online certificates and non-degree options.
Online bachelor degree students have access to an academic consultant, 24/7 tech support, free online tutoring, and a writing lab.
WSU Global Campus features Global Connections, a virtual environment which gives online students access to extracurricular experiences. Events include exhibits, musical performances, visiting speakers, and an online career fair.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities provides accreditation.
The Carnegie Foundation recognizes Washington State University as a research university with very high research activity.
Princeton Review included Washington State University in its Best 378 Colleges 2014 list, and Forbes ranked the university #328 overall in its listing of America’s Top Colleges, and #140 in research universities.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington State University #128 in its 2014 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities list, #21 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, #7 for Best Online Graduate Business Programs, #120 for Best Online Graduate Education Programs, and #21 for Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs.
West Virginia
West Virginia University(Morgantown, WV)
West Virginia University (WVU), a public, space-grant, and land-grant offers nearly 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees through more than a dozen colleges.
Through its Online and Extended Campus, WVU offers about 40 online degree and certificate programs. WVU offers a variety of online undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university also offers online certificates.
Some online classes require live sessions and some online classes may include short-term residency requirements.
WVU provides online students access to the bookstore and library resources.
West Virginia University is included in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education includes list of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity.
West Virginia University ranks #131 in the Forbes 2016 Public Colleges list and #167 in the Research Universities list. WVU tied for #183 in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report list of National Universities. The Princeton Review included the university in the Best 381 Colleges: 2017 Edition. West Virginia University ranks #353 in the nation in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2017 list.
West Virginia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university received accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee(Milwaukee, WI)
The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), a public research university and a member of the University of Wisconsin System, offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate degrees.
The university offers completely online programs via UWM Online. The online programs feature the same curriculum and the same faculty members as on-campus classes.
Undergraduate programs include history, art history, political science, and more, as well as several undergraduate minor options. The university also offers a variety of master’s degrees, a doctoral degree in nursing, and a number of certificates.
The university’s Flexible Option includes competency-based, self-paced degree and certificate programs. Students make progress based on what they know, whether they acquired the information through life experience, military training, or prior coursework.
The University of Wisconsin’s online students have access to a variety of technology supports, such as online tutoring, a call-in help center, and electronic library resources.
The Higher Learning Commission provides accreditation.
The Carnegie Foundation recognizes University of Wisconsin Milwaukee as a research university with high research activity.
Forbes ranked the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee #600 overall in its listing of America’s Top Colleges, and #242 in research universities. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university #25 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and #160 for Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
Wyoming
University of Wyoming(Laramie, WY)
The University of Wyoming, a nationally recognized research institution, offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate degrees. The university offers online degree programs which follow the same academic calendar as on-campus courses.
Students can pursue online bachelor’s degrees in business administration and nursing, and master’s degrees in educational administration, instructional technology, business administration, nurse educator, and more.
The university also provides two online doctoral degrees in educational administration and an early childhood program director certificate.
Students have access to services including online tutoring and the writing center.
The Higher Learning Commission provides accreditation.
The Carnegie Foundation recognizes University of Wyoming as a research university with high research activity.
Princeton Review included University of Wyoming in its Best 378 Colleges 2014 list, while Forbes ranked the university #199 overall in its listing of America’s Top Colleges, and #97 in research universities. U.S. News & World Report ranked University of Wyoming #161 in its 2014 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities list.
Source : https://thebestschools.org
