Southeast online courses earn high rankings

Twice in the past week, Southeast Missouri State University's online programs have been recognized for their affordability and quality by two groups -- OnlineU.org and AC Online, a news release from the university said.

Southeast is featured on OnlineU.org for offering two of the nation's most affordable online degree programs. Southeast's online bachelor of science in nursing RN to BSN completion program ranks second among the nation's top 25 online nursing degree programs on the site, the release said. The university's online master's degree and certification programs in education rank 20th among the nation's top 25 online education degree programs, according to the news release.

AC Online (affordablecollegesonline.org) ranked Southeast's online degree programs eighth in Missouri.

AC Online focused on distance learning options from public and private not-for-profit institutions with full accreditation and compiled a list of all fully accredited four-year online colleges in Missouri, the release said. It ranks 39 colleges and universities in Missouri.

Allen Gathman, associate dean for online learning, said it's difficult to quantify what the rankings mean to Southeast's future. He said GetEducated.com ranked the university's master's of business administration programs as No. 1 or No. 2 several times, and Southeast has seen a "big increase" in contacts and applications as a result.

"It is certainly possible that rankings like these will influence people" who are looking for an online program and may like what Southeast Missouri State offers, Gathman said.

Gathman said some direct results may come from the rankings, but an intangible effect is branding that could lead people to think of Southeast down the road when considering an online degree.

Gathman said the degrees in-state tuition is available for are a registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing, a master of science in organizational management, master of arts in secondary education and master of science in criminal justice. The undergraduate resident cost is $228.75 per credit hour with $12.50 added for online courses; Gathman said there aren't a lot of schools that charge less than $300 per credit hour.

For graduate degrees, the cost is $285.50, plus $12.50 for online, or $298 per credit hour, Gathman said.

Gathman said the $12.50 fee is used to pay for 24-hour tech support, servers, maintenance personnel and faculty training.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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