Online MBA Still a Top Program on Two U.S. News Lists
In an increasingly crowded and competitive market, West Chester University’s online graduate programs continue to be ranked highly among more than 1,200 programs surveyed by U.S. News for its 2022 best graduate programs. Only regionally accredited institutions whose programs are offered mostly or entirely online were evaluated.
The University’s online Master of Business Administration is ranked at #56 nationally on the newly released 2022 U.S. News Best Online MBA Programs list. MBA Coordinator Brian J. Halsey, WCU professor of business law, noted, “We’ve generally maintained our status in a fiercely competitive environment.”
WCU shares the #56 spot with five other institutions on this list of 328 qualified schools. The majority of schools are tied, with a single point on their scores often representing a large movement up or down in the rankings. U.S. News lists the tied universities alphabetically.
U.S. News also released the list of the top Online MBA Programs for Veterans, placing WCU at #38, tied with three other schools. Only 95 institutions are ranked on this list.
WCU’s online MBA is one of the most affordable AACSB-accredited programs in the country. Tuition has been frozen since 2019. The program has been online for more than 10 years and is offered in an asynchronous format with respected faculty, many of whom have taught online for more than 20 years.
For the 2022 rankings, U.S. News evaluated institutions using five categories: engagement (30%), expert opinion (25%), faculty credentials and training (15%), student excellence (15%), and student services and technologies (15%).
U.S. News surveys schools annually to collect the data necessary for its rankings.
In addition, for the third consecutive year, U.S. News administered a separate peer assessment survey directly to deans of business schools with online MBA programs and top distance-learning officials at those institutions. Their methodology states: “A survey of high-ranking academic officials at MBA programs helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that statistics do not capture.”