Best IL Online College Programs: These Schools Made US News List

ILLINOIS — Several online programs offered by Illinois universities and colleges are featured in U.S. News’ 2019 rankings of the best such programs. Online offerings by one Illinois school even made the top 5 overall programs nationwide.

The rankings, released on Tuesday, evaluate both bachelor’s programs and graduate programs in nursing, education, business and engineering. Over 1,500 online programs are featured in the rankings. Online graduate programs in criminal justice, business (non-MBA) and computer information technology are also ranked.

“Online programs can offer a flexible learning environment for students who have to balance classes with working a full-time job, caring for their family or other responsibilities,” Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said in a press release. “The Best Online Programs rankings allow students to compare accredited programs and find those that best fit their education interests and career goals.”

Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Worldwide ranked as the No.1 online bachelor’s program. According to U.S. News, schools at the top of the list have lower indebtedness. The average debt for graduates in the top 10 online bachelor’s programs is about $19,000, U.S. News says.

The top online bachelor’s programs offered by Illinois are:

• University of Illinois--Chicago
• Loyola University Chicago
• University of Illinois--Springfield
• Illinois State University
• McKendree University
• Concordia University Chicago
• University of St. Francis
• Western Illinois University
• Moody Bible Institute
• American InterContinental University
• Judson University
• Lincoln Christian University
• Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Dominican University
• Governors State University
• MacMurray College

The top online bachelor’s programs overall are:

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Worldwide (1)
• Arizona State University (2)
• Ohio State University–Columbus (3)
• Oregon State University (3)
• Pennsylvania State University–World Campus (5)
• University of Florida (5)
• University of Illinois–Chicago (5)
• Colorado State University–Global Campus (8)
• University at Buffalo-SUNY (8)
• University of North Carolina–Wilmington (8)
• University of Oklahoma (8)

For those who want to pursue a business degree, the online MBA program at Indiana University–Bloomington was ranked No.1. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill was tied with Indiana University for No.1. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh ranked No.3. The University of Florida ranked No.4 and the University of Southern California was ranked No.5.

The top online MBA programs offered by Illinois colleges are:

• Southern Illinois University--Carbondale
• University of St. Francis
• McKendree University
• Olivet Nazarene University
• Concordia University Chicago
• American InterContinental University
• Governors State University
• Western Illinois University
• Judson University

Online graduate programs in nursing, education and engineering were also ranked by U.S. News.

Below are the top online programs for each category overall and in Illinois:

Nursing

• Johns Hopkins University (1)
• Ohio State University (2)
• St. Xavier University (3)
• Rush University (4)
• University of Colorado (4)

Top nursing programs offered by Illinois colleges:

• St. Xavier University
• Rush University
• Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville
• University of St. Francis
• Benedictine University
• Lewis University
• St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
• Illinois State University
• McKendree University
• Bradley University

Education

• Clemson University (1)
• University of Florida (1)
• Utah State University (3)
• Virginia Commonwealth University (3)
• Michigan State University (5)
• University of Georgia (5)
• University of Iowa (5)

Top education programs offered by Illinois colleges:

• Northern Illinois University
• University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
• University of St. Francis
• University of Illinois--Springfield
• Concordia University
• McKendree University
• American InterContinental University
• Chicago State University

Engineering

• Columbia University (1)
• University of California–Los Angeles (2)
• University of Southern California (2)
• Pennsylvania State University–World Campus (4)
• Purdue University (5)

Top engineering programs offered by Illinois colleges:

• University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
• University of Illinois--Chicago

You can view the complete rankings via U.S. News here as well as the methodologies used to compile the rankings for each category.

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