Edudemic Ranks Duquesne No. 1 Online University in Pennsylvania

Duquesne is at the top of the list among Pennsylvania schools according to Edudemic’s newly released 2015 Online College Report, a guide for students that ranks the best online colleges and universities in each state.

Dr. Alexandra Gregory

Of the 61 universities in Pennsylvania that offer some type of degree online, Duquesne was ranked No. 1. The University landed the top spot, in part due to what Edudemic described as “strong academic credentials and clear communications about their online programs.”

Edudemic further stated that Duquesne represents the “Western half of the state (Pennsylvania) well, with exceptionally high graduation (77 percent) and retention (89 percent) rates, and a positive national reputation.”

“This ranking demonstrates the great success Duquesne has in online programming, particularly those developed many years ago within the schools of nursing and leadership,” said Dr. Alexandra Gregory, associate provost for academic affairs.  “With the many changes at the University, including a new executive director of eLearning position, we are poised to further build on our successful foundation.”

The University offers online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in nursing, leadership and education. Additional programs are offered in hybrid campus/online formats. The School of Nursing online graduate programs also have garnered a ranking at No. 6 in the nation for Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs by U.S. News and World Report.

For its 2015 Online College Report, Edudemic focused on schools that offer at least four, fully online bachelor’s degree programs. Out of the Pennsylvania schools, they reviewed 19 universities and implemented a methodology that included:

  • performance measurements (like graduation and retention rates)
  • cost factors (such as in-state tuition and financial aid packages)
  • career services specifically for online students
  • availability of information on the school’s website.

In the breakdown of the data Edudemic collected, Duquesne ranked No. 1 among Pennsylvania schools for best graduation rate, best retention rate, best response score, best transparency score and the best performance score.

Edudemic is a news outlet focusing on connecting education and technology.