The University of Missouri is nationally recognized for the quality of its online degree programs.
The university earned the 29th best online bachelor’s degree in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs rankings, according to community announcements. That’s a significant jump from No. 159 a decade ago.
Mizzou also ranked No. 17 in Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees for Veterans, highlighting its commitment to supporting veterans.
Postgraduate courses also rank highly
The university’s strength in online graduate education is also reflected in the rankings. Ranked No. 5 in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan; No. 8 in Online Master of Nurse Practitioner Family; No. 12 in Special Education; No. 15 in Veterans Education Programs; No. 16 in Educational Administration and Supervision.
Last year, college search platform Niche ranked the University of Missouri as the No. 1 online university in the nation, based on reviews and data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Mizzou Online offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate-level degrees and certificates. Online students have access to libraries, tutors, academic tutoring and other resources.
Leader in Online Education
“These strong rankings reflect our commitment to providing exceptional, life-changing online education,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said in a statement. “We are proud to invest in innovative programs that bring the best education in Missouri to students in Missouri and beyond.”
The university’s focus on online education began in 2016, when the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives convened the University of Missouri System Review Committee. The committee recommends making distance learning a strategic priority.
In 2018, the University of Michigan System Strategic Plan committed $20 million to digital learning initiatives to accelerate the growth of online and distance courses and expand access to high-quality, affordable education.
Ranking method explained
The rankings are based on engagement, services and technology, teacher certification and training, and peer evaluation. A show’s score for each factor is calculated based on data reported to U.S. News by online shows in the annual survey. Online programs are ranked using a different methodology than the U.S. News Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools rankings. The ranking methodology is usually updated annually.
This story was created by Janis Reeser (jreeser@usatodayco.com) with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists are involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publication process. For more information, please visit https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
This article originally appeared in the Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri online degree programs continue to climb in national rankings
