The University of North Florida is among hundreds of higher education institutions included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best Online Programs rankings released today. UNF is ranked among the Top 50 colleges and universities in the country for “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs,” which includes data from more than 1,300 distance-education degree programs nationwide.
UNF, ranked No. 48, is the only local higher education institution listed among the rankings in this category. The University also landed on the “Best Online Education Programs” and “Best Online Criminal Justice and Criminology Programs,” both graduate-level rankings.
“It’s very rewarding to have U.S. News & World Report rank our bachelor’s and graduate education online programs among the best in the nation,” said UNF President John Delaney. “Faculty in our online programs are committed to this form of program delivery and have developed course materials and teaching methods that are second to none.”
U.S. News assessed schools based on four general categories: student engagement (including participation in courses that allow students opportunities to readily interact with instructors and fellow classmates), faculty credentials and training (including doctoral and tenure-track faculty and formal training for faculty in distance education), student services and technology (including diverse online learning technologies, career guidance and financial aid resources) and peer reputation (including industry opinions that account for intangible factors on program quality that is not captured by statistics).
“UNF continues to support academic programs and departments as they develop online courses to meet the needs of students,” said Dr. Len Roberson, UNF associate vice president for Academic Technology and Innovation. “Our desire is to offer online courses that are not only high-quality but that provide students with greater access to the University’s excellent programs.”
The University has been offering online bachelor’s degree programs since 2013-14. The faculty provide students with personalized attention to promote success. Using the principles of community and public health nursing, students work in partnership with local community agencies on a project that is applicable to the current workplace and will promote health within the population.
UNF is leading the way in distance learning for interpreter education with distance students from around the United States and Europe. Within the College of Education and Human Services, the University’s ASL/English Interpreting graduate program offers a Master’s degree in Interpreting Pedagogy, which combines fully online courses with intensive face-to-face learning in the summer. Nationally, this program is one of only a few master’s degrees in interpreter pedagogy.
The University’s online graduate education programs include Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychological-Mental Health, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Master of Science in American Sign Language/English Interpreting, Master of Education in Special Education: Autism Track, Master of Education in Educational Leadership: Instructional Technology Track, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, RN-BSN Bridge Track as well as Graduate Certificates in Early Childhood Education, Sport Management, Global Health and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
This latest recognition comes on the heels of UNF receiving several other national designations, including Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s 2017, “Best Regional University” by U.S. News & World Report, “Best in the Southeast” by Princeton Review, “Best Bang for the Buck Southeast Colleges 2016” by Washington Monthly, 2017 “Best College” by College Factual and the national 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine, to name a few.
U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on factors such as graduation rates, indebtedness of new graduates and academic and career support services offered to students. Only degree-granting programs offering classes entirely online were considered. For more information on the “Best Online Programs” rankings, visit www.usnews.com/online.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
