These Colleges In Florida Offer 2022’s Best Online Degrees

FLORIDA — Nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic, current and prospective college students in Florida are still turning to online schools and programs to get their degrees in the safety of their homes.

To help students decide on their post-secondary education plans, U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday released its annual list recognizing select schools and degree programs in Florida that were specifically designed to be earned online.

More than a dozen colleges and universities from Florida earned a spot on the 2022 list of Best Online Programs, released Tuesday by U.S. News.

Overall, the rankings evaluated more than 1,700 online bachelor's and master's degree programs.

"The uncertainty caused by the pandemic may result in more people considering the merits of an online education," Liana Loewus, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said in a news release. “As students consider what's right for them and their schedules, they can use the data provided by U.S. News to research their options and make informed decisions about their academic future."

This year’s rankings did not take into account schools or programs that have temporarily moved online due to the pandemic, according to a release by U.S. News. The list also doesn’t include blended learning programs that combine courses in brick-and-mortar classrooms with online education.

To determine which schools and programs made this year’s list, U.S. News looked at overall academic quality across a variety of disciplines. In addition to online bachelor's degrees, U.S. News ranked master's programs in business, education, nursing, engineering, computer information technology and criminal justice. Online MBA programs were split from other business degrees and ranked separately.

The methodologies to determine the best programs varied according to specialty. Learn more about the methodologies used at USNews.com.

Here’s a look at where other schools in Florida ranked on this year’s list:

Best Online Bachelor's Programs

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, No. 1
• University of Florida, No. 1
• University of Central Florida, No. 1
• Daytona State College, No. 35
• Pensacola State College, No. 47
• University of North Florida, No. 47
• Florida Atlantic University, No. 55
• Florida International University, No. 59
• University of West Florida, No. 59
• Saint Leo University, No. 101
• St. Petersburg College, No. 101
• Lynn University, No. 122
• Florida Institute of Technology, No. 138
• Jacksonville University, No. 169

Best Online Master's in Business Programs (non-MBA)

• Florida State University, No. 16
• Florida International University, No. 18
• University of Florida, No. 21
• University of Miami, No. 35
• Florida Atlantic University, No. 41
• University of West Florida, No. 41
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, No. 59
• Stetson University, No. 59
• Florida Institute of Technology, No. 87
• Jacksonville University, No. 100
• Nova Southeastern University, No. 137

Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice Programs

• Nova Southeastern University, No. 48

Best Online in Master's in Education Programs

• University of Florida, No. 2
• Florida State University, No. 22
• University of Central Florida, No. 46
• University of North Florida, No. 53
• Florida International University, No. 69
• Florida Atlantic University, No. 80
• University of South Florida, No. 90
• University of Miami, No. 93
• University of West Florida, No. 140
• Florida Southern College, No. 171
• Nova Southeastern University, No. 210

Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs

• University of Florida, No. 12
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, No. 37
• Florida International University, No. 49

Best Online Master's in Information Technology Programs

• Florida State University, No. 6
• University of South Florida, No. 14
• University of Central Florida, No. 19
• University of West Florida, No. 31
• Florida Institute of Technology, No. 38

Best online MBA programs

• University of Florida, No. 5
• University of South Florida, No. 31
• Florida State University, No. 37
• Florida International University, No. 42
• University of Miami, No. 42
• Florida Atlantic University, No. 89
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Worldwide, No. 105
• Florida Southern College, No. 105
• Stetson University, No. 132
• University of West Florida, No. 132
• Florida Institute of Technology, No. 146
• Nova Southeastern University, No. 184
• Jacksonville University, No. 201
• Florida A&M University, No. 240
• Lynn University, No. 244

Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs

• Florida Atlantic University, No. 20
• University of Central Florida, No. 20
• Nova Southeastern University, No. 76
• University of West Florida, No. 80
• Jacksonville University, No. 123

Florida-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University remained at No. 1 this year among Best Online Bachelor's Programs. There was a three-way tie between Indiana University-Bloomington, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Southern California for the top MBA program.

Meanwhile, Columbia University had the top-ranked computer information technology and engineering master’s programs. Tied at No. 1 for Best Online Master's in Nursing programs were Ohio State University,
the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Carolina.

Finally, the No. 1 master’s program in education is at Clemson University in South Carolina.

See the full 2022 list of Best Online Programs here.