Originally posted in UGA Today, written by Heather Skyler.

The University of Georgia’s online degree programs are among the nation’s best, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Online Programs rankings released Jan. 21.

Several of UGA’s programs placed in the top 10 in the annual survey, which recognizes bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as well as specialties within certain programs. The survey ranks higher education institutions on criteria including engagement, services and technology, faculty credentials and peer assessment.

“UGA’s online learning model is distinctive because we develop, design and create all our online courses internally, rather than using an outside vendor,” said Stephen Balfour, director of UGA’s Office of Online Learning. “Our team works hard to ensure our online students receive a high-quality education with career development opportunities and the ability to get to know fellow students in their cohort. Our method seems to be helping with retention. Our online MBA program has a retention rate of 98%, and our Master of Public Health is at 100%, both of which are rare. I think this speaks to the strong student experience our dedicated faculty have worked with us to create.”

UGA’s Terry College of Business stayed in the top 10 for Best Online Master’s in Business Programs for the sixth consecutive year. The ranking, which positions UGA as No. 10 overall and No. 7 among public universities, is based on Terry’s online master’s degree in business and technology.

The Mary Frances Early College of Education’s online graduate programs earned high marks in several specialty categories:

• No. 3 in Best Online Master’s in Educational/Instructional Media Design Programs
• No. 4 (up 5 spots) in Best Online Master’s in Special Education Programs
• No. 4 (up one spot) in Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision
• No. 11 in Best Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction Education Programs

The College of Education’s master’s programs ranked No. 15 overall, and those same programs ranked No. 6 as the best online master’s in education programs for veterans. The Best Online Program for Veterans rankings are based on the same factors as the Best Online Programs rankings but also consider an institution’s ability to make college more affordable and accessible through the GI Bill, scholarships and financial aid programs designed for military students.

Retention rates high for new programs

UGA launched several new online programs in high-demand areas in 2023, including an online MBA offered by the Terry College of Business, a Master of Public Health offered by the College of Public Health and several new programs offered by the College of Education.

While these programs are too new to be included in this year’s rankings, another key metric of success is their strong retention rate, which generally tends to be lower for online degrees.

Every student in the first two cohorts of the MPH program returned for their second semester. Program Director Melissa Howard attributes much of this 100% retention rate to the dedication of UGA’s Office of Online Learning, which designs and manages all degrees internally, a unique model. “I work daily with our program’s instructional designer,” Howard said, “and together with our faculty, we have created a program that is not only challenging but highly engaging.”

UGA’s online MBA program has a persistence rate of about 98%. Program Director Susan Brown also attributes its success, in part, to the program’s design, explaining that the online MBA was created to be just as rigorous as UGA’s in-person MBA program and that online students are invited to all the same opportunities offered to the in-person students.

Current MBA student Justin Z. Bridges, who has worked in the financial industry for 20 years, echoed her sentiment. “The reason I chose UGA is simple: its unwavering standard of excellence. I wasn’t going to settle for anything less, and after my cohort interviews, I knew this was the only MBA program for me,” he said, “But the real magic lies in why I stay. We’ve built a culture here that’s rare — a true community between our faculty and cohort members that inspires, challenges and prepares us to thrive in the real world. It’s like capturing lightning in a bottle — artfully done and nearly impossible to replicate.”

In 2000, the online Master of Business and Technology and online Master of Food Technology were among the first degree programs offered online at UGA. The Mary Frances Early College of Education launched its first online master’s in adult education degree program in 2001. Today, UGA offers 36 graduate degree programs and 22 graduate certificate programs.