Lehigh University – College of Business and Economics and Hofstra University – Zarb School of Business landed spots in U.S. News & World Report’s new ranking of the Best Online MBA Programs.
Lehigh University came in at No. 8 on the list, and the Zarb School was No. 55.
The ranking’s methodology took five categories into consideration:
- Student engagement accounted for 28 percent of each school’s ranking. This includes the degree to which students can easily interact with their instructors and classmates.
- Admissions selectivity (25 percent) was included because “online degrees that schools award judiciously will have greater legitimacy in the job market,” U.S. News wrote in explaining the methodology.
- Also weighted at 25 percent was peer reputation, based on a survey of high-ranking academic officials at MBA programs.
- Faculty credentials and training accounted for 11 percent of a school’s ranking. U.S. News considered not only instructor’s academic credentials but also whether they were trained to teach distance learners.
- Student services and technology accounted for the final 11 percent of each ranking.”MBA programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance,” U.S. News wrote. The magazine also looked at the support students got in learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid.
In Lehigh University’s part-time MBA program, online courses are offered through Lehigh’s Office of Distance Education. The Zarb School has an informational webinar scheduled Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. EST about its online MBA.
The top five spots in the ranking went to 1. Temple University – Fox School of Business; 2. Indiana University – Kelley School of Business; 3. University of North Carolina – Kenan-Flagler Busines School; 4. University of Florida – Hough Graduate School of Business; and 5. Arizona State University – W.P. Carey School of Business.
To learn more about selecting the best online MBA program for you, check out our article “Online MBA vs. Traditional MBA.”