Three UNM programs are among those listed in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs Rankings.
The online master’s in Engineering program from UNM School of Engineering is ranked No. 50 (up from No. 53 in 2020); the online master’s in Nursing from UNM School of Nursing is ranked No. 83 (up from No. 99 last year) and the online master’s in Education from the UNM School of Education and Human Sciences is ranked No. 91.
2021 U.S. News & World Report
Best Online Programs Rankings
Best Online Master's Engineering Programs | Ranked No. 50, up from No. 53 in 2020
“To be in the top 50 in the nation in U.S. News is an incredible accomplishment,” said Christos Christodoulou, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing. “To be ranked so highly among some of the most-respected programs in the country speaks highly of the quality of our programs. It’s especially meaningful to see how quickly our rankings have risen in such a short period of time. Now that nearly all programs have been forced to transition online, it is more important than ever that the quality be high, and I am proud that ours ranks among the best.”
Best Online Master's in Nursing | Ranked No. 83, up from No. 99 in 2020
“Online education is more important than ever before,” says Christine E. Kasper, PhD, RN, dean of the College of Nursing. “Our MSN Nursing Administration and Nursing Education programs educates nurses and prepares them to be leaders in their field, advancing nursing care for all New Mexicans. There is a shortage of nurse educators in New Mexico and we take pride in helping fill the vital positions.”
Best Online Master's Education Programs | Ranked No. 91
This particular set of rankings looked exclusively at online programs. Other rankings released throughout the year by the same group assess other kinds of programs. UNM is often ranked, and many programs have been recognized with similar accolades over the years.
“U.S. News’ ranking of these online programs is a testament to the extraordinary work of our faculty and staff in creating engaging and rigorous online programs,” said UNM Provost James Holloway. “UNM has invested in online learning over the years and built our capacity to deliver this kind of excellent education online. It’s not for everyone or for every program, but when we do it, we want to do it well.”
U.S. News and World Report uses five criteria in establishing the best online programs rankings:
- Engagement (student engagement with each other, faculty engagement with students)
- Faculty Credentials and Training (instructors with academic credentials as well as a devotion to resources in training faculty members in online learning environments)
- Expert Opinion (a survey of academic officials who assess intangible factors)
- Services and Technologies (diversity of learning technologies)
- Student Excellence (strong student body contingency, active in their campus and community)