Simpson College named a U.S. News & World Report Best Online Program

Simpson College offers one of the top online bachelor’s degree programs in the country according to the U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Online Programs rankings, released Tuesday.

Simpson jumped 64 spots from last year’s rankings to tie for No. 144 among the best online bachelor’s programs in the nation. That puts Simpson at No. 53 among private colleges and No. 2 in the state of Iowa. Simpson was ranked No. 208 nationally in 2020.

Simpson’s fully online master’s in criminal justice program also factored prominently in the rankings, appearing at No. 43 nationally and No. 11 among private colleges. The program is the only one of its kind in Iowa to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report.

Take your career to the next level – complete your degree at Simpson College

“The strength of our online programs is a direct result of the college’s mission to provide educational access to learners at all stages of their lives,” president Marsha Kelliher said. “Even before the pandemic, we made a commitment to offering quality, affordable education through our evening, online and hybrid programs. This year’s rankings reflect that commitment.”

The institutions featured in the list of best online bachelor’s degrees have the best online, baccalaureate-level programs, most of which are degree-completion oriented. U.S. News evaluated several factors to rank the best programs, including graduation rates, faculty credentials and support services available remotely.

Simpson’s online program also received high praise in a recent release by EDsmart. The scholastic rankings specialist featured Simpson at No. 15 on its list of Best Online Colleges for 2020, estimating a $151,000 return on investment for graduates.

The U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Online Programs ranking assessed a record 1,641 programs. These rankings do not include degree programs that were delivered temporarily online in 2020 as many colleges shifted to remote instruction.  

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.
 
Contact Information
Cathy Cole, Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Communication
Direct: 515-961-1595
Email: cathy.cole@simpson.edu