These Colleges In Georgia Offer 2022’s Best Online Degrees

GEORGIA — Nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic, current and prospective college students in Georgia 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 Georgia that were specifically designed to be earned online.

A total of 22 colleges and universities from Georgia 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 some of the top-ranked Georgia schools on this year’s list:

Nursing Master’s

Georgia College & State University, Augusta

• Ranked 29

University of West Georgia, Carrollton

• Ranked 29

Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Ranked 76

Kennesaw State University

• Ranked 106

Clayton State University, Morrow

• Ranked #135-179

Georgia State University, Atlanta

• Ranked #135-179

University of North Georgia, Dahlonega

• Ranked #135-179

MBA

University of West Georgia, Carrollton

• Ranked 52

Mercer University – Atlanta, Atlanta

• Ranked 56

Georgia College & State University, Augusta

• Ranked 69

Georgia Southern University, Statesville

• Ranked 69

Columbus State University, Columbus

• Ranked 78

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw

• Ranked 121

IT Master’s

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw

• Ranked 27

Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Ranked 38

University of West Georgia, Carrollton

• Ranked 54

Columbus State University, Columbus

• Ranked #65-85

Engineering Master’s

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw

• Ranked #79-104

Mercer University, Macon

• Ranked #79-104

Education Masters

University of Georgia, Athens

• Ranked 3

Georgia State University, Atlanta

• Ranked 69

Mercer University, Macon

• Ranked 80

Georgia Southern University, Statesville

• Ranked 93

University of West Georgia, Carrollton

• Ranked 102

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw

• Ranked 130

Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Ranked 147

Valdosta State University, Valdosta

• Ranked 147

Georgia College & State University, Augusta

• Ranked 171

University of North Georgia, Dahlonega

• Ranked 171

Brenau University, Gainesville

• Ranked 231

Columbus State University, Columbus

• Raked #242-321

Criminal Justice Master’s
Georgia State University, Atlanta

• Ranked 22

Georgia Southern University, Statesville

• Ranked 44

Georgia College & State University, Augusta

• Ranked #64-#81

University of North Georgia, Dahlonega

• Ranked #64-#81

Business (Non-MBA) Master’s
University of Georgia, Athens

• Ranked 3

Georgia College & State University, Augusta

• Ranked 41

Georgia Southern University, Statesville

• Ranked 52

Clayton State University, Morrow

• Ranked 103

Bachelor’s
University of Georgia, Athens

• Ranked 16

Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah

• Ranked 80

Mercer University, Macon

• Ranked 101

University of West Georgia, Carrollton

• Ranked 133

Valdosta State University, Valdosta

• Ranked 147

Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa

• Ranked 190

Life University, Marietta

• Ranked 261

Columbus State University, Columbus

• Ranked 271

Wesleyan College, Macon

• Ranked 271

Georgia Southern University, Statesville

• Ranked #275-361

Middle Georgia State University, Macon

• Ranked #275-361

Truett McConnell University, Cleveland

• Ranked #275-361

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.