By Joe Garvey
Old ֱ University has been nationally ranked as a Best Online Military Friendly College and for having a Best Online Master's in Sports Management Degree Program for 2021 by intelligent.com.
ODU ranked among the top 40 in the United States and No. 1 in Virginia in both categories.
For the military ranking, intelligent.com analyzed 224 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with 63 making it to the final list. With 25% of its student body military-affiliated, ODU was also cited for having the Best Alumni Network and ranked 38th overall with a score of 78.9. The only other schools from Virginia that made the list were Regent University (No. 48) and Liberty University (No. 56).
For the sports management degree program, intelligent.com analyzed 137 institutions, with 54 making the final list. ODU, which was also designated as Best in the Southeast, ranked 25th with a score of 87.22. Virginia Commonwealth University placed 28th and Liberty was 37th.
To be considered, institutions had to be nonprofit, accredited and offer flexible learning options. From there, intelligent.com looked at five factors:
- Program Strength
- Student Readiness
- Return on Investment
- Cost
- Student Engagement
The schools on the list offer all levels of degree programs, and all have regional or national accreditation. They offer classes on campus, online and in hybrid formats.
ODU's online programs have long been recognized as being among the nation's best. Here is a sampling of recent national rankings:
Business & Management
- No. 27 (tie) Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 5 Best Online Internet Marketing Degree Programs - BestValueSchools.org, 2021
- No. 5 Best Online Bachelor's in Management Information Systems - TheBestColleges.org, 2020
- No. 2 Most Affordable Online Schools for Fashion Degrees - OnlineU.org, 2020
- No. 25 Best Online MBA Programs - The Princeton Review, 2021
- No. 67 (tie) Best Online MBA Programs - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 45 (tie) Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 11 Best Online Master's in Public Administration - Intelligent.com, 2021
Communication & Writing
- No. 7 Top Online Colleges for English Language & Literature - CollegeFactual.com, 2021
- No. 5 Best Online Master's in English - AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, 2021
- No. 12 Best Master's in English Online - GuidetoOnlineSchools.com, 2020
Computer Science & Math
- No. 6 Best Online Computer Science Degree Programs - Intelligent.com, 2021
- No. 8 Best Online Bachelor's in Computer Science - TheBestSchools.org, 2020
- No. 10 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity - CollegeConsensus.com, 2021
- No. 27 (tie) Best Online Master's in Computer Information Technology Programs - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
Education
- No. 12 Best Schools for Online Teacher Education, Subject Specific Degrees - CollegeFactual.com, 2021
- No. 4 Best Online Elementary Education Degrees - OnlineU.com, 2020
- No. 7 Best Online Bachelor's in Special Education - CollegeConsensus.com, 2020
- No. 29 (tie) Best Online Master's in Education Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 5 Best Online Master's in Secondary Education - Study.com, 2021
Engineering
- No. 1 Best Online Bachelor's in Computer Engineering - TheBestSchools.org, 2020
- No. 1 Best Online Electrical Engineering Programs - AffordableCollegesOnline.org, 2018-19
- No. 11 Best Colleges for Online Engineering Degrees - CollegeFactual.com, 2021
- No. 45 Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 25 Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 4 Best Online Master's in Computer Engineering - Intelligent.com, 2021
- No. 13 Best Online Master's in Engineering Management - CollegeConsensus.com, 2020
- No. 8 Most Affordable Online Master's in Engineering Management - OnlineU.org, 2019
- 5-time recipient: Founders Award for Excellence in Leadership for Graduate Programs - American Society of Engineering Management
Health Sciences & Nursing
- No. 1 Online College for Bachelor's in Public Health - GuideToOnlineSchools.com, 2020
- No. 10 Best Online Colleges for Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration - GuideToOnlineSchools.com, 2020
- No. 8 Best Online Master's in Health Education (MPH) - OnlineU.com, 2020
- No. 1 Online Nurse Practitioner Program in Virginia - NurseJournal.org, 2020
- No. 3 Most Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Programs - NurseJournal.org, 2020
- No. 1 Best Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Programs - RegisteredNursing.org, 2021
- No. 71 (tie) Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 16 Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- No. 5 Best Nurse Midwifery Programs - RegisteredNursing.org, 2020
Social Sciences
- No. 4 Best Online Human Services Degree Programs - Intelligent.com, 2021
- No. 3 Best Online Colleges for Bachelor's in Human Services - GuidetoOnlineSchools.org, 2020
- No. 10 Best Schools for Online Criminology Degrees - CollegeFactual.com, 2021
- No. 25 Best Online Bachelor's Programs in Psychology - U.S. News & World Report, 2021
Additionally, CollegeFactual's 2021 rankings placed ODU No. 1 in Virginia for online bachelor's degrees in accounting; criminology; English language and literature; finance and financial management; management information systems; marketing; mental and social health services; other health professions; social sciences; sociology; and teacher education, subject specific.