The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been named in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Education Programs, announced Jan. 21.
UT received high marks in three categories: Best Online Graduate Business Programs (non-MBA), Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
“These rankings attest to the success of our efforts to reach learners wherever they are. We remain committed to expanding access to higher education,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick, “to breaking down barriers to learning and acquiring educational credentials by creating flexible high-quality opportunities for learners everywhere to achieve their academic and professional goals.”
Top Rankings in Business and Engineering
The online non-MBA graduate business programs in UT’s Haslam College of Business rank 16th among public institutions and 19th nationally. The category encompasses master’s degrees such as the online MS in supply chain management and MS in business cybersecurity.
“Our online programs deliver the same quality education that students expect from in-person programs,” said Amy Cathey, the college’s dean of graduate and executive education. “But the online offerings allow students to pursue graduate degrees from almost anywhere in the world. We offer a variety of graduate program formats — including residential, working professional, fully online and short courses — that make pursuing an MBA or other business degree possible for people from many different backgrounds and at many points in their careers.”
The online graduate engineering programs in UT’s Tickle College of Engineering rank 21st among public institutions and 28th nationally, moving up 14 spots nationally from last year’s rankings. The category includes online master’s degrees in fields such as civil and environmental engineering, engineering management, industrial engineering and computer science.
“Being in the top 25 for public online engineering programs is a great recognition, considering the rapid proliferation of online education,” said Matthew Mench, dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair of the Tickle College of Engineering. “I believe the rapid rise in our rankings is a reflection of both the expansion of high-value programs and our strategic decision to develop only the highest quality programs, with pedagogy designed specifically for the online student.”
Bachelor Programs Advance in Rankings
The university’s online bachelor’s degree programs moved up 32 spots from last year and rank 35th among public universities and 39th nationally.
UT offers nine fully online bachelor’s degrees through Vols Online, with programs in agriculture, early childhood education, information sciences, interdisciplinary studies, management, nursing (RN to BSN), political science, religious studies and social work.
“We are proud of the growing recognition of UT’s high-quality online degrees,” said Bruce Behn, dean and CEO of Digital Learning, a campus unit focused on discovery, learning and engagement for fully online students. “Over the last few years, the campus has invested in enhancing the online student experience, which is realized in the rankings of each of our online programs.”
Access to a Degree
Nearly one million Tennesseans have some college credit but no degree. UT offers more than 70 online degree and certificate programs through Vols Online. The program provides online students with UT’s excellent higher education experience.
Last year UT and Arizona State University formed a groundbreaking collaboration to expand access to higher education through digital learning. The initiative aims to empower learners on their educational journeys and address evolving workforce needs.
Methodology
Now in their 13th year, the U.S. News online program rankings are based on an assessment of approximately 1,780 online degree programs. U.S. News ranked these programs using data from student engagement, peer assessments, faculty credentials and training, student excellence, and services and technologies. Peer assessments were calculated from survey responses from deans of the colleges.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Perrin Anderson, Digital Learning, (865-441-0866, perrin@utk.edu)
Cindi King, News and Information, (865-974-0937, cking126@utk.edu)