Texas Tech ranked at top for online learning
Newsweek released its inaugural “America's Best Online Learning Schools 2022” list earlier this week, and Texas Tech University was ranked atop the list of 150 higher education institutions.
The ranking is based on an online survey taken by more than 9,000 individuals in the U.S. from July through September of 2021.The final list of top colleges and universities is based on user reviews and institutional data.
“Texas Tech is committed to providing a high-quality online education to students no matter where they are,” said Justin Louder, associate vice provost of eLearning & Academic Partnerships at Texas Tech. “Our faculty partners with eLearning staff to develop engaging, interactive and academically sound online courses. This ranking highlights the work and success of our campus and I thank everyone involved in online and distance learning for all their hard work.”
Institutions that offer whole degree programs or standalone courses online were eligible to be considered in the Newsweek survey. Texas Tech stood out from the competition with its 80 degree programs available fully online in addition to its non-credit online learning options, professional development courses and certification trainings.
The survey, administered by Newsweek in partnership with Statista, utilized qualitative components in its evaluation criteria. In addition to institutional indicators such as enrollment, graduation statistics and research activity, the survey was designed to analyze student experience.
Data such as accessibility, support and service, cost and perceived organizational reputation were gathered. Finally, survey participants were asked about their overall satisfaction and the likelihood they would recommend the institution to others.
“Texas Tech's history of meeting students where they are to provide education dates back to the 1960s when ‘online education' meant delivering courses through closed-circuit television,” said Texas Tech Provost Ron Hendrick. “There has been a 90% increase in online enrollment from 2019 to 2020, and our No. 1 ranking means, to me, that we are staying true to that commitment of meeting people where they are to provide educational opportunities.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech ranked at top for online learning
