Webster’s Online Business Programs Rise in the National Rankings

ST. LOUIS – Webster University’s non-MBA online business programs in the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology rose significantly in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of national online programs, earning an individual ranking of 137 on the list, released Jan. 25.

Non-MBA programs include degrees in forensic accounting, finance, health care management, human resources development, human resources management, management and leadership, health administration and marketing. 

The curriculum is not only solid, but our faculty have been working diligently to keep programs current...The result is reflected in this year’s rankings.”

Webster’s non-MBA programs rose from the bottom quarter of the annual ranking to near the middle this year. The online MBA program in the Walker School and the online master’s in teaching in the Webster University School of Education also were listed in this year’s national online program rankings.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see that the work of our faculty is receiving such overwhelmingly positive reviews from our students and being recognized by U.S. News & World Report,” said Simone Cummings, dean of the Walker School. “This is also a testament to the fantastic work our Online Learning Center has done to provide the best online experience possible for our students.”

Webster University’s online courses are taught by the same faculty members who teach the classes in Webster’s physical locations. Curriculum in the programs is coordinated so that students receive the same lesson plans regardless of if the class is in-person or online. 

Michelle Loyet, associate vice president for Online Education at Webster University, said that more institutions are listed in the rankings this year, in part because of the pandemic. Many institutions that previously did not have online programs quickly created them so that students could study at home. Despite the added competition, Webster’s overall score on the ranking did not diminish. In fact, the non-MBA program score rose significantly.  

“The curriculum is not only solid, but our faculty have been working diligently to keep programs current,” Loyet said. “The Online Learning team has also made a number of improvements, incorporating new technologies, new accessibility supports, and enhancing their partnership with faculty to create and deliver more engaging, high quality courses and provide technical and pedagogical support to both our students and faculty.  The result is reflected in this year’s rankings.”

U.S. News & World Report uses federal data and survey results from students and college leadership across the country to receive feedback about various programs. Using a complex mathematical formula, the data and survey results are used to calculate an overall score for each program in the rankings. Programs are then ranked in numerical order from highest to lowest score, except for those institutions in the lowest 25 percent of the overall ranking. Those schools are bundled together as “ranged” and their scores are not revealed.

It is incredibly rewarding to see that the work of our faculty is receiving such overwhelmingly positive reviews from our students and being recognized by U.S. News & World Report."

In 2020 and 2021, Webster’s non-MBA programs were listed in the “ranged” section of the annual list. Last year, the minimum score needed to earn an individual ranking and not be in the “ranged” group was 43. This year, Webster’s non-MBA programs rose from the “ranged section” to near the middle of the list at 137 with a score of 51, tying with five other institutions. 

The Walker School’s online MBA program was listed in the “ranged” category, as it was last year. Loyet said the online MBA program’s overall scores in areas such as student feedback, technology used for the online experience, and the credentials of the professors teaching the classes improved from last year’s rankings, but it was still put in the “range” category because of the increase in the number of online MBA programs included in the rankings this year. That increase in competition on the list meant that an even higher score was necessary to earn an individual ranking.

The School of Education’s Online Master’s in Teaching program also was ranked this year as a “ranged” program, which is also where it was listed last year. It too had improved overall survey scores but also faced more competition from other institutions.

“This is great news and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the faculty in the School of Education,” said Michael Hulsizer, acting dean of the School. “Many of the graduate students already are working as teachers, so it’s essential that they have access to quality online education to further their career goals. The inclusion of our online courses in this year’s list is reflective of the faculty's ongoing dedication to creating innovative, high-impact learning experiences utilizing state of the art technologies and pedagogical approaches. Faculty are committed to the continued development of educators as equity-minded change agents for the students and families they serve.”

U.S. News & World Report releases several rankings each year using data and survey feedback from nearly 4,000 institutions of higher education. This year’s complete rankings can be found online at usnews.com/education/online-education.