The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, earned “Best” status in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Education Programs, announced Jan. 27. The university’s degree-granting distance-education programs earned high marks in multiple categories.
UT rated particularly highly in three areas: Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, Best Online Undergraduate Business Programs and Best Online Graduate Business Programs (non-MBA).
“I’m absolutely thrilled by this recognition — it’s a testament to UT’s commitment to excellence and continual innovation in online education,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. “Earning such well-deserved acknowledgment for our outstanding distance programs reflects the dedication of our faculty, the work of our support staff and our focus on student success. UT will continue to invest, improve and make available best-in-class online education, ensuring learners everywhere have access to a rigorous, high-quality UT education.”
Top 10 Ranking for Bachelor Programs
The university’s online bachelor’s programs reached an extraordinary milestone, securing the No. 10 national ranking — a remarkable 29-spot jump from last year. Through Vols Online, students can access 14 fully online bachelor’s programs across a wide range of fields, including applied artificial intelligence, agriculture, data science, early childhood education, information sciences, management, nursing (RN to BSN), political science and social work. Vols Online is set to expand further, introducing seven new undergraduate programs in fall 2026.
“This recognition highlights our commitment to enhancing the quality and accessibility of Vols Online programs,” said Bruce Behn, dean and CEO of Digital Learning, the university’s hub for discovery, learning and engagement for fully online students. “We are thrilled to see our efforts celebrated nationally and remain dedicated to delivering innovative, flexible and supportive learning opportunities for our students.”
Business Programs Rank in Top 15
In the outlet’s ranking of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, the Haslam College of Business’ new Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program debuted at No. 10 among both U.S. public universities and overall. In their second year in the Best Online Master’s in Business Programs rankings, the college’s non-MBA online master’s programs — Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Online (M.S. SCM) and Master of Science in Business Cybersecurity Online (MSBC) — rose from No. 16 to No. 11 among public schools and from No. 19 to No. 15 overall.
The business college also performed well among veterans, placing No. 8 among public institutions and No. 10 overall in the Veteran’s Graduate Business ranking, and at No. 48 among public institutions and No. 68 overall in the Veteran’s MBA ranking.
Amy Cathey, associate dean for Graduate and Executive Education, described the graduate online programs’ rise in the U.S. News ranking as a reflection of the college’s commitment to serving students’ educational needs by delivering degree programs in several platforms and formats, using the most advanced applications and technology.
“Our online programs offer students the same high-quality education students in Haslam’s in-person programs enjoy,” Cathey said. “With our online offerings, students can pursue a graduate degree from virtually any place around the world. Haslam’s multiple graduate program formats — including residential, working professional and fully online — enable people from disparate backgrounds in different stages of their careers to earn an MBA or other business degree. Further, program content is designed to ensure students develop up-to-date, relevant knowledge and skills. The programs’ rise in the U.S. News rankings is a sign our efforts are succeeding.”
Recognition for Graduate Engineering Programs
The online graduate programs in UT’s Tickle College of Engineering rank No. 33 nationwide.
“The Tickle College of Engineering has heavily invested to deliver high-quality online programs such as a Doctor of Engineering degree, MS programs in engineering management, cybersecurity, computer science and others,” said Matthew Mench, dean of the college. “These programs have been designed specifically for the online experience and are nationally recognized for their excellence. Having these programs helps us deliver advanced training to those who are already in the workforce and are seeking to elevate their career path opportunities. It is great to see the USNWR has reflected the overall excellence of our online programs with a high ranking among our peers.”
Access to a Degree
Nearly one million Tennesseans have some college credit but no degree. To help bridge this gap, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers 80 online degree and certificate programs through Vols Online, giving students access to UT’s renowned higher education experience in a flexible, digital format. In 2024, UT partnered with Arizona State University on a groundbreaking collaboration to expand access to higher education through online learning. This initiative is designed to empower students in their educational pursuits while addressing the evolving needs of today’s workforce.
Methodology
Now in their 14th year, the U.S. News online program rankings are based on an evaluation of approximately 1,850 online degree programs. U.S. News assesses these programs with 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 business colleges nationwide.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)
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