U.S. News & World Report has ranked Neumann’s online bachelor’s degree among the best in the country. In rankings released on February 7, the magazine named Neumann’s program as #7 nationwide in student engagement and #115 overall.

Student engagement is the most heavily weighted of four categories used by the publication to assess online degree programs.

As defined by U.S. News, the student engagement category measures students’ interaction with their instructors and classmates and completion of their degrees in a reasonable time.

In this category, Neumann’s program was ranked ahead of similar degrees offered by many universities with national profiles and household names.

According to the magazine, “U.S. News chose factors that weigh how these programs are being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time.”

The four categories used to assess online degree programs are Student Engagement (35%), Services and Technologies (25%), Faculty Credentials and Training (20%), and Expert Opinion (20%).

Neumann offers two online bachelor’s degree programs: the BS in Business and Organizational Studies and the BS in Public Safety Administration. Both programs offer courses in an accelerated format (7.5-week classes) and provide adult students, many of whom have family and work responsibilities, flexibility in completing the degree.

Dr. Jilian Donnelly, executive director of the university’s Adult and Continuing Education unit, credits the personal attention that a small college can provide for Neumann’s success with adults. “Our academic advisors will review a student’s work history, work-related training, military experience, and previous college work, all in an effort to transfer in as much credit as possible,” she explains.

Neumann is also a Yellow Ribbon school and helps eligible veterans fund their post-secondary education. Veterans and other adult students can transfer as many as 90 credits to the online degree programs.

According to Donnelly, because students enrolled in these programs are likely to be seeking career advancement, both online programs incorporate a problem-solving project related to the student’s workplace, affiliated organization, or career interest.