U.S. News & World Report's rankings of the best online programs are growing more robust with each iteration, its critics acknowledge, but the publication is exaggerating by calling them the "only resource students can turn to for unbiased information on online programs."
The fourth edition of the rankings, which were introduced in 2012, went live this morning -- the latest attempt by the publication to provide an overview of the rapidly expanding number of institutions that offer distance education programs. In three years, the number of ranked programs has nearly doubled, from 677 in 2012 to more than 1,200 this year.
Over the course of those years, the formula behind the rankings has also changed. Last year, U.S. News introduced a "peer reputation" factor to the mix, which accounts for 20 percent of a bachelor's degree program's score. The other factors -- including admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement, student services and technology -- each had to shed 5 to 10 percent of their weighting as a result.
That addition was a controversial one, particularly to rural or younger institutions. With a large share of the score being awarded based on the opinions of others, some institutions say the system rewards colleges and universities based on name recognition, not the quality of education.
This year's rankings feature mostly minor weighting tweaks, suggesting U.S. News is approaching a formula it finds ideal. The publication’s data collection process, however, still gives pause to some critics.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/07/three-years-after-launch-us-news-rankings-online-programs-still-draw-mixed-response