For a historical 2022 shortlist, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Worldwide and the University of Florida tied for No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs ranking. Arizona State University placed No. 6, CUNY School of Professional Studies No. 10, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst No. 19. Those rankings describe the 2022 list—not today’s standing, prices, or program availability—and they do not determine which college is best for an individual working adult.
What the 2022 ranking measured
U.S. News announced its 2022 Best Online Programs results on January 25, 2022, after evaluating more than 1,700 online bachelor’s and master’s programs. Eligible degrees were offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions. Its bachelor’s list ranked programs, not colleges as universally best for every student. U.S. News announcement distributed by PR Newswire.
The Florida Board of Governors’ June 2022 summary said the online bachelor’s ranking population comprised 381 programs. It described the ranking’s weights as engagement (35%), services and technologies (25%), faculty credentials and training (20%), and expert opinion (20%). The methodology considered predominantly online programs from entry through completion and excluded programs with regular mandatory in-person classes. Florida Board of Governors’ 2022 methodology summary.
These measures can help identify programs that performed well under that ranking’s criteria, but they do not answer an individual applicant’s current questions about net price, transfer-credit acceptance, weekly workload, or whether a specific major fits a career or licensing goal.
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Five colleges and programs on the 2022 list
| Institution | 2022 result | What the institution reported then |
|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Worldwide | Tied No. 1 in online bachelor’s programs | U.S. News ranking result; the cited institutional detail for this shortlist does not state a program count. U.S. News announcement. |
| University of Florida | Tied No. 1 | UF said UF Online offered 25 degree options from 10 colleges in its January 2022 announcement and served traditional and nontraditional students, including veterans and mid-career professionals. These are reported 2022 figures, not current counts. University of Florida announcement. |
| Arizona State University | No. 6 overall; its online bachelor’s business program ranked No. 1 | ASU said it enrolled students in more than 200 fully online degree programs in 2021. That is historical institutional reporting, not a current program count. Arizona State University announcement. |
| CUNY School of Professional Studies | No. 10 out of 358 schools, as reported by CUNY SPS | The school described itself as an undergraduate all-transfer college serving adults completing bachelor’s degrees. It said students could receive its in-state tuition rate regardless of residence; check current pricing and eligibility directly rather than relying on that 2022 statement. CUNY SPS announcement. |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | No. 19 nationally | Its January 2022 announcement listed online pathways in interdisciplinary studies, business administration, hospitality and tourism management, RN-to-BS, and sustainable food and farming. Confirm that a named program is still offered online before applying. UMass Amherst announcement. |
The University of Florida’s provost, Joe Glover, said, “Online education is not simply a matter of transferring in-person classes to an online format.” That is the university’s perspective, not an independent assessment of its program. UF’s January 2022 announcement.
How to choose a college while working
Use the 2022 ranks as a starting point, then assess the exact degree you would pursue against your budget, available time, existing credits, and career requirements. The ranking methodology emphasized engagement, services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinion; it did not settle the personal fit questions below.
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Calculate the full cost
- Ask for the estimated total cost to finish your particular degree, including tuition, mandatory fees, books, and any required travel or in-person residency.
- Confirm which tuition rate applies to your residency and whether financial aid eligibility changes by enrollment status or location.
- Compare the likely cost after accepted transfer credits, not just a per-credit rate or advertised starting figure.
Get a transfer-credit decision for your major
- Ask how many credits from your transcripts apply to the precise degree requirements, rather than counting only credits accepted by the institution.
- Check documentation rules and whether the school will evaluate work-based or military learning for credit.
- Request an individualized degree audit or written transfer evaluation before committing, if available.
Test whether the schedule is workable
- Find out which courses are asynchronous and which require live meetings, fixed deadlines, or group work at set times.
- Check how often required courses run, whether you can study part time, and what the expected weekly workload is.
- Ask how the schedule changes during exams, clinical placements, labs, or other required activities.
Check the path to completion and available support
- Determine how many degree requirements remain after transfer and whether course sequencing could delay graduation.
- Ask about advising access, tutoring, career services, and technology support, including availability outside standard business hours.
Verify program fit and recognition
- Review the curriculum for your intended major and identify any in-person placements, laboratories, or other attendance requirements.
- Where your career requires professional accreditation or state licensure, verify that the exact program meets the relevant requirements where you plan to study or work.
- Check the institution’s accreditation and confirm current program details directly with the college; 2022 rankings and announcements do not establish present-day status.
What the rankings can—and cannot—tell you
The 2022 results offer a dated comparison based on U.S. News’s stated criteria. They do not demonstrate that a particular student will finish faster, pay less, earn more, or improve employment prospects. A high rank is not a substitute for checking current program availability, transfer treatment, cost, scheduling, and recognition for the degree you need.
U.S. News education managing editor Liana Loewus said students could use the ranking data “to research their options and make informed decisions about their academic future.” Her comment appeared in the January 25, 2022 announcement. For a working adult, that research is most useful when applied to the exact program and personal constraints—not treated as a universal recommendation.
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