2021 Best Online Colleges (based on ROI)

[Merlin]

Optimal/GradReports has produced its 2021 Best Online Colleges & Degrees rankings based on ROI. It looks like a few of our favorites made the list. There is an article on Forbes discussing the list as well.

For Bachelor's degrees:

1. University of Virginia
   
2. Northeastern University
   
3. Excelsior College
   
4. Capella University
   
5. SUNY Empire State College
   
6. University of Alaska, Anchorage
   
7. Roger Williams University
   
8. Thomas Edison State University
   
9. Rider University
   
10. Colorado State University Global
    
11. Drexel University
    
12. University of Maryland Global Campus
    
13. Concordia University, St. Paul
    
14. St Joseph’s University
    
15. Brandman University
    
16. Bellevue University
    
17. Miami University
    
18. Western Governors University
    
19. American Public University System
    
20. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
    
21. University of Northwestern - St. Paul
    
22. Trident at AIU
    
23. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
    
24. University of Bridgeport
    
25. National University
    

It doesn't look like COSC made the top 25, so not all the Big 3 are on there, but WGU did make the list. Capella, Brandman, and CSU Global also made the list, but I was somewhat surprised that NAU didn't make it.

They released a similar list for Master's degrees, but none of the competency-based colleges we usually suggest made the general list. Georgia Tech is mentioned, but not for the OMS degrees. Purdue is also listed, but not Purdue Global. If you dig down into the degree-specific listings, the more familiar schools do show up there.

In any case, I figured others may find this list useful or at least interesting.