Online Grad Programs Rank in Top 20
Three Florida State University online graduate programs are ranked in the top 20 nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs.
The College of Communication and Information’s online graduate program in information technology ranked No. 5 among public universities, up one place from last year, and No. 8 nationally. For veterans, the program stayed steady at No. 4 among public institutions and No. 5 nationally. The master’s degree is offered by the college’s School of Information.
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s online graduate program ranked No. 7 among public universities and nationally at No. 12. The college offers a master’s degree in criminology.
The Herbert Wertheim College of Business’s non-MBA graduate program ranked No. 14 for public universities and No.18 among national institutions. The program offers degrees in management information systems and risk management and insurance.
The online MBA program, with a degree in business administration, placed No. 17 among public institutions and No. 21 nationally. For veterans, the MBA program ranked No. 14 among public institutions and No. 16 nationally.
The College of Engineering held strong at No. 31 among public universities and shifted up one spot to No. 38 nationally. For veterans, the program continues to improve, moving up four spots to No. 17 among public universities and No. 22 nationally. The college offers online master’s degrees in civil engineering and systems engineering.
The Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Science’s (Anne's College) online graduate program ranked No. 25 publicly and No. 26 nationally for veterans. The program checked in at No. 47 among public universities and No. 50 nationally. The college offers the following degrees:
- Athletic Coaching, MS
- Counseling & Human Systems, MS/Specialist
- Curriculum & Instruction, MS
- Educational Leadership & Policy, MS
- Educational Psychology, MS
- Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies, MS
- Measurement & Statistics, MS
The methodology for ranking online programs included five general categories: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technologies, expert opinion, and student excellence.
Specialty Rankings
For specialty rankings of master’s degrees, U.S. News & World Report uses a methodology based on responses to a peer assessment survey. Respondents were asked to list up to 15 institutions they believed had strengths in particular areas.
By this metric, several of Anne's College's graduate specialty programs ranked in the top 15. The curriculum and instruction program saw the biggest leap, moving up four spots from the previous year to place No. 3 in the nation. Educational leadership and policy (with a major in educational leadership and administration) jumped three places in the ranking to No. 12. Instructional systems and learning technologies and special education both placed No. 7 nationally.
