Johns Hopkins University is the top online graduate nursing program, followed by Ohio State University and St. Xavier University.
This year’s ranking assesses 1,545 online degree programs–55 more than in 2018.
Most undergraduate programs assessed in the Best Online Programs rankings are degree completion programs, meaning few, if any, of new entrants are first-time, first-year students. This means indicators such as standardized test scores and high school class standing that are used in the Best Colleges rankings are not used in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings.
U.S. News gathers data directly from each institution as it compiles the annual rankings. The methodologies are based on factors including student engagement, faculty credentials, and student services and technology. Only degree-granting programs at regionally accredited institutions that are offered primarily online were considered.
Online learning continues to offer expanded learning opportunities to traditional and nontraditional students, but it also challenges institutional norms.
The 2018 Changing Landscape of Online Education is part of a continuing effort to uncover what chief online officers at higher-ed institutions think about learning policies, practices, and plans. It’s a joint initiative of Quality Matters and Eduventures.
Though the term “online learning” can blur the lines between all-online and blended learning, surveyed institutions tend to emphasize fully-online programs over blended learning—in fact, very few institutions said they see blended learning as a core strategy.
The top five most important or innovative online learning technologies, according to the survey, are a learning management system, anti-plagiarism and assessment integrity tools, audio/visual conferencing, lecture/video capture and management, and online assessment and proctoring.
Another report delves into trends around online program marketing and recruitment, program design and development, and student demographics.
Seventy-three percent of online students say career and employment goals were a major motivation for enrolling in their online learning program. Those goals include transitioning to a new career field (35 percent) and earning academic credentials in a current field of work (30 percent).
Ninety-nine percent of online education program administrators say demand has increased or stayed the same over the past few years, and nearly 40 percent of respondents say they plan to increase their online program budgets in the next year.
The majority of students in online education programs (79 percent) and the majority of alumni (76 percent) think online education is better than or equal to on-campus education, and 57 percent of surveyed schools say employers feel the same way.
- Weak tech could push students, faculty to other institutions - April 13, 2026
- 13 predictions about edtech, innovation, and–yes–AI in 2026 - January 1, 2026
- 5 essential dimensions of AI literacy - December 12, 2025