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Online Universities Preparing Students to Succeed

Top rated online universities are generally postsecondary schools that are well respected by major employers and licensed educators around the country.  Even if you attend a top university online that’s located several states away from where you work, employers in the state where you live are probably familiar with the school, making it easier for you to gain the job you want most that allows you to bring home an attractive salary.

Each year US News & World Report lists and ranks the best colleges and universities.  Other organizations or businesses that rank top schools, including top online universities accredited by local, regional and national agencies are the Princeton Review, Forbes, Top American Research Universities and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.  These publications and organizations rank accredited colleges and universities based on factors such as:

• Costs of tuition (part-time and full-time)
• College entrance examination (e.g. SAT, ACT) scores required to get accepted to the school
• Financial aid programs offered or accepted by the postsecondary schools
• Numbers of students enrolled in the schools
• Acceptance rate
• Majors and minors offered at the college or university
• Student to faculty ratio
• Graduation rate (the numbers of years it takes students to graduate with a degree)
• Student retention rate (numbers of freshmen who return to the postsecondary school the following year to complete their education)

As of 2011, US News & World Report recorded the top colleges and universities as:

1. Harvard University
2. Princeton University
3. Yale University
4. Columbia University
5. Stanford University
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. California Institute of Technology
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9. Dartmouth College
10. Duke University

Annual tuition at these top colleges and universities ranges from $36,000 to more than $40,000.  In 2011, US News & World Report also reported on the top ten online universities.  Focus of the rankings was the size of the schools with the top schools being:

1. University of Phoenix
2. Kaplan University
3. Strayer University
4. Ashford University
5. Liberty University
6. Walden University
7. University of Maryland-University College
8. Grand Canyon University
9. Capella University
10. American Public University System

More About Top Ten Online Universities

Several of these top ten online universities were founded during the 1940s or earlier.  Because of the numbers of years they have been offering students the opportunity to gain an undergraduate and graduate education from the comforts of their own homes, these online schools have platforms, administrators, licensed teachers, academic advisors and career counselors in place who can help you get the most out of your online education.

Many of these schools also allow you to commute to their nearby campuses and take courses in-person in a classroom setting.  Similarly, the top ten accredited colleges and universities that are widely known for their campus curriculums also offer online degree programs which you can take advantage of.  Before you start taking courses at these schools, take the time to apply for financial aid (e.g. scholarships, grants) so you can offset the costs of your advancing education.