GAINESVILLE, FLA. – UF Online has risen to No. 5 in the 2019 rankings by U.S. News & World Report for the best online programs in the country, up from No. 12 in 2018.
The ranking coincides with the online undergraduate program’s fifth birthday. The University of Florida (UF) continues to be the top-ranked public university for online undergraduate programs in the state of Florida, according to the U.S. News list.
“We are very proud of UF Online’s boost in the rankings and happy the news has fortuitously fallen on our fifth birthday as an online program!” says Evangeline Tsibris Cummings, Assistant Provost and Director of UF Online. “This recognition from U.S. News is a reflection of the astounding efforts by the UF faculty and staff, plus the hard work of our online students and UF Online alumni. In only five years, we have reached a notable accomplishment – a national ranking among the top five online undergraduate programs. The University of Florida continues to be devoted to creating the best online undergraduate pathway with rigorous academic coursework and a rich, engaging student experience.”
UF Online was ranked No. 5 based on the following factors: engagement (35 percent); services and technology (25 percent); faculty credentials and training (20 percent); and expert opinion (20 percent). The program earned a score of 95 out of a total of 100 points. UF Online’s rise in the rankings can be attributed to several factors, such as having high marks in categories including: faculty with a terminal degree, affordable tuition, retention rates, and technologies available to students. This year, UF Online also earned improved scores in areas such as graduation rates, average class sizes and learning analytics platforms.
Other interesting findings from the U.S. News rankings include:
- The University of Florida continues to be ranked the No. 1 school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for online bachelor’s degree programs.
- Additionally, three other public colleges in Florida were also ranked in the top 50 – University of Central Florida (No. 14), Daytona State College (No. 33) and University of North Florida (No. 37).
