RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Nonprofit Colleges Online (nonprofitcollegesonline.com), a website devoted to promoting nonprofit online colleges and universities, has published a ranking of the best nonprofit online schools offering Master's in Communication and Public Relations programs. The ranking can be viewed here: http://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com/rankings/best-online-masters-in-communication-and-public-relations/
The ranking is part of the "Students Before Profits" award series, which aims to highlight programs of study that put "Students before profits and education before the bottom line." The award was created, in part, to counteract the bad publicity around online education that has been created by the exploitative practices of for-profit online education companies.
North Dakota State University holds the number one position on the ranking with a total tuition of just $8,855. Quincy University and South Dakota State University come in at #2 and #3.
Other colleges and universities awarded (in alphabetical order) are:
Arizona State University–Phoenix, Arizona
Asbury University–Wilmore, Kentucky
Austin Peay State University–Clarksville, Tennessee
Ball State University–Muncie, Indiana
Bellevue University–Bellevue, Nebraska
Boston University–Boston Massachusetts
Concordia University–St. Paul, Minnesota
Drexel University–Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Eastern Michigan University–Ypsilanti, Michigan
Franklin University–Columbus, Ohio
Gonzaga University–Spokane, Washington
Kent State University–Kent, Ohio
Lasell College–Newton, Massachusetts
Liberty University–Lynchburg, Virginia
Loyola University Maryland–Baltimore, Maryland
Marist College–Poughkeepsie, New York
Minnesota State University Mankato–Mankato, Minnesota
Missouri State University–Springfield, Missouri
Montana State University Billings–Billings, Montana
Murray State University–Murray, Kentucky
National University–La Jolla, California
Northeastern University–Boston, Massachusetts
Northern Arizona University–Flagstaff, Arizona
Northern Kentucky University–Highland Heights, Kentucky
Notre Dame of Maryland University–Baltimore, Maryland
Park University–Parksville, Missouri
Purdue University–West Lafayette, Indiana
Queens University of Charlotte–Charlotte, North Carolina
Stephen F. Austin State University–Nacogdoches, Texas
Southern New Hampshire University–Manchester/Hookset, New Hampshire
Spring Arbor University–Spring Arbor, Michigan
Steton Hall University–South Orange, New Jersey
Texas Tech University–Lubbock, Texas
Tiffin University–Tiffin, Ohio
University of Denver–Denver, Colorado
University of Florida–Gainsville, Florida
University of the Incarnate Word–San Antonio, Texas
University of Iowa–Iowa City, Iowa
University of Maryland University College–Adelphi, Maryland
University of Michigan Flint–Flint, Michigan
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee–Milwaukee, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Stout–Stout, Wisconsin
Washington State University–Pullman, Washington
Weber State University–Ogden, Utah
Webster University–Webster Groves, Missouri
Western New England University–Springfield, Massachusetts
West Virginia University–Morgan Town, West Virginia
Criteria for placement in the ranking include being a regionally accredited public or private non-profit college or university offering comparatively lower than average tuition rates for an online master's degree.
"Virtually every profession values communicators who can shape messages with technology and keep up with media as it changes," says Brett Gershon, the lead editor of the ranking. "Effective written and verbal communication skills are consistently named among the most desirable skills for the widest range of careers."
Gershon also highlighted the fact that a master's degree in communication provides an excellent return on investment. "The National Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported an average difference in pay between bachelor's and master's degree holders in communications as $213 per week," Gershon said, "which amounts to over $11,000 per year difference in salary. This means many of the degrees in the ranking will essentially pay for themselves in just over a years time and provide a significant increase in students' lifetime earnings."
In addition to the Students Before Profits Award, nonprofitcollegesonline.com publishes reviews, and other resources to help prospective students learn about and connect with schools where they can get a quality online education that puts their needs and success first.
Contact:
Brett Gershon
Editor, Nonprofit Colleges Online
http://nonprofitcollegesonline.com
763.503.0162
Email