University of Nebraska online programs remain among the best for veterans

Online programs offered by the University of Nebraska continue to rank among the best in the country for veterans, according to a new list issued by U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings, the second such list produced by U.S. News, feature online programs in business, education and engineering offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and online bachelor’s degree programs offered by both UNL and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. All the ranked programs are available through the University of Nebraska Online Worldwide website, which provides access to more than 100 online degree, certificate and endorsement programs offered by the four campuses.

“I couldn’t be prouder that the University of Nebraska is being recognized for our efforts to meet the needs of students who serve or have served our country,” said Mary Niemiec, associate vice president for distance education and director of University of Nebraska Online Worldwide. “Our campuses are committed to expanding access to accredited, valued credentials. Military students and their families often need the flexibility online education provides and deserve to have quality options as they pursue their academic goals.”

The U.S. News rankings are designed to help veterans identify high-quality online degree programs that meet their educational needs. The rankings take into account affordability, accessibility and reputability in consideration of benefits available specifically to people with military experience.

UNL’s online Master of Business Administration program and graduate programs in education both earned No. 2 national rankings, leading the Big Ten in each category. The online MBA, which offers a flexible deployment policy and provides credit for active-duty service, climbed one spot from last year’s rankings.

“This recognition for our online MBA demonstrates how the world is noticing the outstanding quality of this program,” said Donde Plowman, dean of the College of Business Administration. “Both our online and our on-campus MBA programs are consistently ranked among the best.”

Marjorie Kostelnik, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, said: “We provide fully integrated, comprehensive degree programs taught by resident faculty who feel connected to both the programs and students. We are glad that veterans are able to benefit from these high-quality indicators.”

Additionally, UNL’s online graduate engineering program ranked No. 11 nationally, the only Big Ten program to be ranked in that category.

UNO’s online Bachelor of General Studies ranked No. 7 among all bachelor’s programs, continuing UNO’s success in earning national recognition for its military friendliness. The bachelor’s program, which offers a diverse range of concentrations in high-demand areas, was created with military students in mind. The BGS provides flexible acceptance of transfer credits – including credits for military training and active-duty service – and offers scholarships and advisers specifically for active-duty military, veterans and military spouses. The program’s policies support military members during times of deployment, and students in the program have access to UNO’s Office of Military and Veteran Services, a one-stop support office for students with a military affiliation.

“This recognition for UNO’s Bachelor of General Studies degree as one of the 10 best online programs for military and veteran students is incredibly significant for our city and state,” said Gina Toman, director of UNO’s Division of Continuing Studies, which oversees the Bachelor of General Studies degree. “There are hundreds of thousands of men and women who are looking to balance the importance of serving their country and the importance of earning an education and we can say with confidence that UNO is the best place to do that with independence and flexibility.”

UNO’s Office of Military and Veterans Services is overseen by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Dan Shipp, UNO associate vice chancellor for student affairs, said: “Online courses and degree programs are one of the fastest growing changes currently happening in higher education and we are excited, but not surprised, that UNO is leading the charge in this emerging area.”

UNL also was recognized in the bachelor’s degree category, ranking No. 27.

Niemiec noted that the University of Nebraska has taken specific steps to improve the higher education experience for veterans. NU is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium and a partner school in the national “Got Your 6” campaign, which aims to increase support for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. A university-wide workshop held this month on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus focused on strategies to support military students and help them complete their degrees.