CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Value Colleges (www.valuecolleges.com), an independent online guide to the best values in undergraduate and graduate college education, is pleased to release the Top 50 Best Value Online MPA Programs of 2016 (http://www.valuecolleges.com/rankings/best-online-mpa-programs-2016/).
Value Colleges' Top 50 Best Value Online MPA Programs ranking scoured the U.S. for the strongest, most reputable online MPA degrees. All of the schools in this ranking are regionally accredited, and most are also accredited by the NASPAA. The schools on this list strike a balance between affordability and quality to ensure the best possible education for the investment.
The top 50 are ranked using the following metrics: reputation according to U.S. News & World Report rankings; salary data according to College Scorecard; and cost per credit, as reported by each institution.
The top three best values for 2016 are: 1) University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri; 2) University of Nebraska Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska; and 3) University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado. Congratulations to these best of the Best Values, and to all the excellent institutions that made the list!
Here is the entire list in alphabetical order:
American University – Washington, DC
American Public University – Charles Town, WV
Anna Maria College – Paxton, MA
Arkansas State University – Jonesboro, AR
Barry University – Miami Shores, FL
Belhaven University – Jackson, MS
California Baptist University – Riverside, CA
California State University Dominguez Hills – Carson, CA
California State University Long Beach – Long Beach, CA
California State University San Bernardino – San Bernardino, CA
Clemson University – Clemson, SC
Eastern Kentucky University – Richmond, KY
Florida Gulf Coast University – Fort Myers, FL
Franklin University – Columbus, OH
Indiana State University – Terre Haute, IN
Indiana University – Bloomington, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University – Marion, IN
John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) – New York, NY
Kent State University – Kent, OH
Marist College – Poughkeepsie, NY
Northern Michigan University – Marquette, MI
Norwich University – Northfield, VT
Park University – Parkville, MO
Penn State World Campus – University Park, PA
Regent University – Virginia Beach, VA
Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ
Southern University – Baton Rouge, LA
Southern Utah University – Cedar City, UT
Stephen F. Austin State University – Nacagdoches, TX
Troy University – Troy, AL
University of Alaska Southeast – Juneau, AK
University of Baltimore – Baltimore, MD
University of Colorado Denver – Denver, CO
University of Delaware – Newark, DE
University of Illinois Springfield – Springfield, IL
University of Mary – Bismarck, ND
University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL
University of Missouri – Columbia, MO
University of Nebraska Omaha – Omaha, NE
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Dakota – Grand Forks, ND
University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
University of South Dakota – Vermillion, SD
University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Brownsville, TX
University of West Florida – Pensacola, FL
Upper Iowa University – Fayette, IA
Valdosta State University – Valdosta, GA
Villanova University – Villanova, PA
"The Bureau of Labor Statistics," explains site editor Carrie Sealey-Morris, "predicts significant growth over the next decade in the field of public administration. The need for experienced, capable managers, administrators, and leaders is becoming ever more critical." Given that the public sector is growing by leaps and bounds, she adds, "Working professionals in public service positions are looking to augment their credentials in order to improve their prospects of advancement, while recent college graduates just entering the field are also seeking ways to make themselves more competitive." An MPA degree is the best way to achieve these goals, and an online MPA is the natural choice for working adults. This ranking is designed to guide prospective students to the smartest programs.
Value Colleges is an independent, online resource with one mission: to help prospective students find the best educational value in their chosen field. At Value Colleges, future students can find rankings for the top investments in online and residential college degrees, advice on making the best decisions about finances when in college, and explanations of commonly misunderstood aspects of college costs.
Carrie Sealey-Morris
Editor, Value Colleges
(512) 710-9901