JANUARY 24, 2023 — U.S. News and World Report placed UTSA Online in the top quarter of all online bachelor’s degree programs, jumping from No. 246 in 2021 to No. 85 in 2023 for an overall 65% increase in its rank in two years.
“I’m extremely proud of UTSA Online and the outstanding faculty and staff whose dedication to the success of our students has propelled our fully online programs to the head of the pack,” said Kimberly Andrews Espy, UTSA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “As the top ranked university in the UT System for its fully online programs and the No. 1 institution in San Antonio, UTSA is meeting the needs of adult learners in our region and preparing them with the skills and knowledge needed by employers to advance our regional workforce.”
UTSA’s online program support has steadily grown its certificate, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree offerings in the university’s academic colleges. Over the last 18 months, UTSA Academic Innovation’s Office of Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation has worked closely with UTSA Online and college faculty to scale up online course development dramatically and to produce new fully online programs targeted to meeting the needs of adult learners. Together, the team develops courses that leverage the latest in online learning strategies and course design to provide students with classroom-to-career skill-building opportunities tailored to their needs, ensures course accessibility and integrates student engagement best practices.
“UTSA Online’s velocity of growth demonstrates our intentional commitment to high-quality courses and faculty empowerment that results in greater student engagement and success,” said Melissa Vito, vice provost for UTSA Academic Innovation. “UTSA Online, ranking fifth among all Hispanic Serving Institutions with Carnegie R1 status, is a home to adult learners and a positive driver of social mobility in our region and across the United States.”
Students who enroll in the fully online programs supported by UTSA Online often return to finish an undergraduate degree, attempt to start a new career or progress in their roles, while juggling jobs and family responsibilities. UTSA Online students are typically older than students enrolled in traditional residential programs.
“We are expanding higher education access to students who would never go back to school if a fully online program wasn’t an option,” said Suzana Diaz Rosencrans, UTSA assistant vice provost for online programs. “Our degrees and certificates allow students to access the benefits of a prestigious HSI-R1 that offers programs in growing career fields.”
Jonathon Halbesleben, dean of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, Bodenstedt Chair and Tom C. Frost Distinguished University Chair for Business Excellence, added, “Our faculty and UTSA’s Academic Innovation team have created a comprehensive approach to bringing high-quality academic programs to a fully online setting. We have seen tremendous success in our Online B.B.A. in Cyber Security degree program. UTSA Online’s programs complement our traditional offerings, expand UTSA’s impact and extend the opportunity of a bold future to a new group of learners.”
UTSA Online advances UTSA’s mission as a next-generation, Hispanic thriving, multicultural institution where students from all backgrounds can excel. Of UTSA Online students, 53% are first-generation and 50% identify as Hispanic/Latino.
In its leap in this year’s U.S. News and World Report ranking, UTSA Online improved in creating smaller class sizes and in the areas of faculty, credentials, training and practices, lower percentages of graduates with debt, higher retention rates, and more services and technology available to students. U.S. News and World Report continued to highly score UTSA in tech support for faculty, time to graduate and following best practices.
“UTSA Online was the best choice for me in my life and in my career right now because going back to an on-campus class setting doesn’t fit my lifestyle,” said Shalita Myrick ’22, a recent UTSA Online graduate.
Myrick enrolled in a UTSA Online degree program in fall 2020 and graduated in fall 2022 despite relocating four times in three years – moving from California to Dallas to Houston, where she is now the senior project manager for Facilities Operations at Texas Children’s Hospital. She credits UTSA Online with helping her achieve her career goals while accommodating changes in her personal life.
“I would recommend UTSA Online to anyone that wants the same experience of having access to a robust faculty with years of knowledge and the flexibility to take their education with them in their life and their career,” Myrick said.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
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