ASU Grad Program Ranks in Top 10

Angelo State University’s educator preparation program has been ranked in the top 10 nationally for its online graduate degree offerings for veterans by U.S. News and World Report for its 2014 edition of Best Online Programs for Veterans.

Overall, ASU ranked No. 8 among the 45 U.S. colleges and universities identified by U.S. News and World Report as offering top online graduate education programs for veterans, and is one of only three Texas schools on the list. 

“Veterans and active-duty service members face unique challenges as students, from transitioning between bases and grappling with deployment to balancing work and family life upon return,” said Robert Morse, director of data research for U.S. News.  “The Best Online Programs for Veterans are high-quality programs that also offer educational benefits and flexibility for veterans pursuing a degree.”

The Best Online Programs for Veterans ranking follows up ASU’s graduate education program being ranked No. 36 in the nation in U.S. News and World Report’s overall 2014 Best Online Programs list released in January.  That overall ranking was a prerequisite for the program to be considered for the veterans rankings.

Additionally, online degree programs had to belong to institutions that participate in four key programs that offer education benefits to people with military service: certification for the GI Bill, membership in the Yellow Ribbon Program and Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium, and course offerings in the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) catalog.

Dr. John Miazga, dean of the ASU College of Education, said, “The College of Education continues to offer the highest-quality online education.  The faculty and staff strive to interact with online students, providing opportunities for each student to be successful.  Our veterans and active service members deserve the best preparation anywhere, anytime.  We are proud to be recognized for our service to them and to be acknowledged for the quality of our online programs.” 

Now in their second year, the Best Online Programs for Veterans rankings were developed by U.S. News and World Report to help thousands of returning veterans and active-duty service members pursue college or advanced degrees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

“Veterans are going back to college in the highest numbers since World War II,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News.  “We developed these rankings to help them find top-quality institutions and programs that also offer federal benefits that ease the burden of applying, paying for and completing a degree.”

The other Texas schools on the education program list are Sam Houston State University at No. 5 and Texas Tech University at No. 44.

The full rankings can be found on the U.S. News and World Report website at www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/veteran-rankings.