2023 Best Online Programs Ranking Includes Rhode Island Schools: U.S. News

RHODE ISLAND — Thirteen bachelor’s and master’s programs at accredited universities in Rhode Island are ranked among the 2023 Best Online Programs released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings are designed for people who want to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but need the flexibility to complete the coursework online. U.S. News is the only media organization that ranks online degrees at the program rather than school level.

U.S. News ranked programs in eight disciplines. Programs in Rhode Island that made the grade are:

Bachelor’s Degree

• New England Institute of Technology — ranked No. 93 with a score of 77
• Johnson & Wales University — ranked No. 114 with a score of 74.

Master’s Programs

• Bryant University — ranked No. 65 with a score of 81
• Salve Regina University — ranked No. 169 with a score of 67
• Johnson & Wales University — ranked No. 197 with a score of 63.

• University of Rhode Island — ranked No. 31 with a score of 85
• Johnson & Wales University — ranked No. 121 with a score of 62
• Salve Regina University — ranked No. 157 with a score of 51.

• University of Rhode Island — ranked between No. 72 and 93.

• Salve Regina University — ranked No. 33 with a score of 66
• Johnson & Wales University — ranked No. 49 with a score of 60.

• University of Rhode Island — ranked No. 82 with a score of 82.

• None ranked in Rhode Island.

• Salve Regina University — ranked between No. 141 and 185.

U.S. News evaluated some 1,832 programs — the highest in the history of the rankings — to arrive at the 2023 list. Of those, 1,730 were ranked.

Online learning increased in popularity at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. News noted, but many of the institutions whose programs are ranked were ahead of the curve and had offered online programs for years.

Most of those evaluated offer degree completion programs that give students who have completed some of the requirements the flexibility to complete their degrees, according to Eric Brooks, the lead data analyst at U.S. News.

“The methodology is developed with those students in mind, setting these rankings apart from those that are focused on recent high school graduates pursuing higher education for the first time,” Brooks said in a news release.

While the methodologies are different for each discipline, they all incorporate metrics specific to online learning.

The online bachelor’s level ranking does not use standardized tests, instead relying on other factors such as faculty credentials and training, services and technologies available to students, student engagement and expert opinion on the academic quality of programs.

Master’s degree programs, in addition to these criteria, are also ranked based on student excellence. Blended learning programs — a combination of both face-to-face and distance instruction — are not included in the rankings.