Webster University's Online Programs Named the Best in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Webster University offers the best online courses for college students working on a bachelor's or master's degree in Missouri, according to AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org. Webster is listed in first place, up five spots from last year, among Missouri schools, and sixth place nationally. The rankings were released Thursday.

To earn a spot on the "Best Online Schools in Missouri" list, colleges and universities were judged based on availability of financial aid opportunities, school counseling services, student/teacher ratios and graduation rates. Out of the nearly 200 colleges registered in Missouri, 42 were ranked.

Nationally, 1,461 colleges and universities were ranked. Webster University was ranked in sixth place, just below Concordia University-Wisconsin, Cansius College, Drexel University, Harvard University and University of Southern California.

"When Webster pioneered online learning programs in the 1990s, we did so to meet students' needs. This ranking shows that Webster University has continued to innovate to meet evolving student needs and is at the forefront for offering high quality online opportunities for their education," said Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. "By developing Webster's capabilities in both synchronous and asynchronous modes, we help students complete courses, certificates, and degree programs on their terms in ways that assure their success."

According to AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, Webster's programs were ranked highly in several criteria, including that it allowed both full-time and part-time students in the U.S. and abroad, and that online courses met the same academic standards as the traditional on-campus programs. Webster University offers more than 25 online graduate degrees and five online undergraduate degrees.

"However, the courses are also tailored with online learning in mind. Courses are delivered through WorldClassRoom, where students can access the same faculty who teach the courses in person. Students are able to access their courses digitally from anywhere and at any time. Students also have access to other students for networking opportunities," the rankings review of the program says.

Schools were scored for factors such as cost and financial aid, variety of programs, student-teacher ratios, graduation rates, support services offered, career and academic counseling offered, employment services, and loan default rate.

All the factors were used to calculate a "peer-based value." Webster offers academic counseling, placement services and credit for experience. Approximately 94 percent of online students receive financial aid, the online programs have a student-teacher ratio of about 14 students per instructor, and the graduation rate is approximately 64 percent, according to the survey. Overall, Webster's programs received a 98.67 score out of 100 in the national ranking, and a score of 99.8 in the state ranking.

"We know that not everyone learns the same and for some students, an online program is more convenient as well as more conducive to learning," said Julian Schuster, Webster University's provost, senior vice president and chief operating officer. "Our online programs continue to expand and attract a growing number of students, and Webster University will continue to invest in online to make sure our students receive the best possible experience."

AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org was founded in 2011 to provide students and parents with quality data and information about pursuing an affordable, quality education that has been certified by an accrediting agency. Their community resource materials and tools span topics such as college accreditation, financial aid, opportunities available to veterans, people with disabilities, as well as online learning resources. They feature higher education institutions that have developed online learning programs that include highly trained faculty, new technology and resources, and online support services to help students achieve educational success.

For more details on the annual rankings, including data and methodology used to determine the lists, visit http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/missouri/#best-college-ranking.

To learn more about Webster's online programs and to see a full list of program, visit http://www.webster.edu/online/.

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SOURCE Webster University