WSU Global Campus nationally ranked

Washington State University’s Global Campus is one of the top 15 undergraduate online programs in the nation, according to a recent ranking by U.S. News and World Report.

According to the publication, WSU’s online programs were among more than 12,000 surveyed among 311 schools for the ranking.

U.S. News reported it ranked the programs based upon performance in four weighted categories: student engagement at 40 percent, and the rest split among faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and – in some cases – peer reputation or admission selectivity.

WSU’s Global Campus’ online bachelor’s degree program tied for 15th place with four other programs, with scores of 73 in student engagement, which measures student satisfaction and instructor responsiveness; 91 in faculty credentials and training, which measures the preparedness of instructors; and 60 in student service and technology, which measures the amount of support available for distance learners.

The online master’s degree in business administration tied for 27th place with one other university with scores of 89 in faculty credentials, 51 in student services and technology, 75 in student engagement and 67 in admissions selectivity.

The online graduate engineering and technology management program tied with two other universities for 28th place with scores of 72 in faculty credentials, 61 in student services and technology, 68 in student engagement and 54 in admissions selectivity.

The program, which operates through the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, is one of the nation’s oldest, said Kim Zentz, director of WSUs engineering and technology management program.

“The engineering and technology management program was first a distance education program, then an online program,” she said. “While it is a lot of hard work you can do it in your own hometown on your own schedule and, within reason, at your own pace. The program has had that philosophy about assisting working professionals and the companies they work for since 1982.”

Zentz said the program is continually growing in enrollment and reach and plans to keep it up with increased programming,

“We are planning to continue to accelerate that growth,” she said.

This is the third time the program has been recognized by U.S. News.