From 2013 to 2014, UF’s online degree program rocketed up 29 places in the U.S. News and World rankings.
Rankings released Wednesday marked UF fifth nationwide in online undergraduate degrees, along with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This is a jump from 34th last year.
UF also ranked first in the state among public universities for online Bachelor’s degree programs, also tied with Embry-Riddle.
Andrew McCollough, UF associate provost for teaching and technology, credits this rise to the new metrics used to rank the colleges. Other than the addition of peer rankings, scores were calculated based on student engagement, faculty credentials and training and student services and technology.
This year, U.S. News based 20 percent of final rankings on peer review.
McCollough said the education industry sees UF as a recognized brand, which adds to the visibility and high-ranking of UF’s online programs.
The data collected by U.S. News and World was based on the two-plus-two program offered by the university, which allowed students to spend their last two years of college earning a degree online from UF, McCollough said.
“This is affirmation we know how to deliver education online,” McCollough said.
The university’s new comprehensive four-year degree program, UF Online, also launched recently.
Some students, like Jessica Mandel, still prefer in-person classes. The 19-year-old UF advertising freshman said she found it harder to get help and manage her time in an online class.
“With classes, you just have to go,” Mandel said. “You have to be responsible and dedicated and set aside time for online classes.”
For Kelsey Willianson, an 18-year-old UF biochemistry freshman, the new ranking makes her less reluctant to take an online class.
“It makes me not as afraid to take a class online,” she said. “If I want to take a class but it’s full, I could still take it online.”
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 1/10/2014 under the headline "Online program races up ranks"
