ASHLAND -- Three of Ashland University’s online programs have been ranked in the prestigious U.S. News and World Report lists for Best Online Programs for 2021.

AU’s Master of Business Administration Online Program has been ranked first in northeast Ohio, second for private online programs in Ohio as well as fourth in Ohio overall among Best Online MBA Programs. It was the 100th ranked program overall nationally among Best Online MBA Programs, while AU’s Online Bachelor’s Programs were rated number two among the best private online programs in Ohio, seventh among all Ohio colleges and universities and the 152nd ranked programs overall nationally among Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. In addition, AU’s online Graduate Education Program was ranked as the 146th best Online Graduate Education Program in the nation.

Dr. Elad Granot, dean of the Dauch College of Business and Economics, is pleased that Ashland was ranked in the top 100. “We’re proud to be recognized as a top business school on the national stage. Our rise above all schools of business in Northeast Ohio is a testament to the unparalleled efforts of our faculty and staff in support of our students. In an effort to continuously improve our programs and provide a world-class MBA,” said Granot who continued “we are working towards accreditation from AACSB.”

“AU online programs provide flexible access to educational opportunities for many more students and these are just one additional way that Ashland University puts the focus on the needs of the learner,” said Provost Dr. Amiel Jarstfer. “Each faculty member who invests in students through these top online programs shows an even higher measure of Accent on the Individual. We are very pleased that the excellence of our online programs has been recognized.”

Dr. Donna Breault, dean of the Schar College of Education, said, “We are thrilled that the rankings are more closely representing what we've known for some time. The M.Ed. programs at Ashland provide personal attention and dynamic opportunities for students to think deeply about their work as educators. Our programs provide the same level of engagement and attentiveness online that they historically provided in our face-to-face programming. This is why so many of our students return for additional endorsements. They value the interactions they have with our faculty.

The Best Online MBA Programs ranking process evaluated schools based solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed MBA programs using five categories --student engagement (30 percent), student excellence (15 percent), expert opinion (25 percent), faculty credentials and training (15 percent), and student services and technology (15 percent).

For the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings, the U.S. News and World Report chose factors that weighed how these programs were being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed schools based on four general categories -- student engagement (35 percent), student services and technology (25 percent), faculty credentials and training (20 percent), and expert opinion (20 percent).

The Best Online Graduate Education Program rankings evaluated schools based solely on data related to their online graduate education program. For this ranking, U.S. News assessed Graduate Education programs using five categories -- student engagement (30 percent), student services and technologies (20 percent), expert opinion (20 percent), student excellence (15 percent), and faculty credentials and training (15 percent).

In addition to the online MBA, Bachelor’s and Graduate Education programs, Ashland University offers graduate online programs in Doctorate of Nursing Practice as well as Corporate and Strategic Communications and online bachelor’s degree programs in business, criminal justice, communication studies, multidisciplinary studies, and its RN to BSN program.