{"id":73782,"date":"2025-01-27T09:57:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T16:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=73782"},"modified":"2025-05-22T12:47:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T19:47:35","slug":"nau-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/nau-online\/","title":{"rendered":"NAU Online recognized for reaching students where they are"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/provost\/online\/\">NAU Online<\/a> is recognized amongst the top 20% of the nation\u2019s best online programs with several strong placements in the 2025 Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Program rankings released on Tuesday by U.S News &amp; World Report.<\/p>\n<p>Offering high-quality, affordable and flexible online programs designed to mirror the rigor and value of on campus programs has been the guiding principle of NAU Online since its launch more than 25 years ago.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-74916\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BOP01-BACH-Overall-2025_OL-300x280.png\" alt=\"Best Online program: US News &amp; World Report: Bachelor's 2025\" width=\"129\" height=\"120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP01-BACH-Overall-2025_OL-300x280.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP01-BACH-Overall-2025_OL-1024x955.png 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP01-BACH-Overall-2025_OL-768x716.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP01-BACH-Overall-2025_OL.png 1038w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 129px) 100vw, 129px\" \/>NAU\u2019s reputation as an online education leader has continued in the decades since as evidenced by NAU Online\u2019s recognition in the top 20% of their peers in the 2025 U.S. News &amp; Report Rankings tied for No. 51 out of 350 ranked programs nationally amongst online bachelor\u2019s degree programs. NAU also earned recognition for its strong support for veteran and military-connected online learners.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-74915 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BOP02-BACH-Business-2025_OL-300x292.png\" alt=\"Best Online Programs: U.S. News &amp; World Report, Bachelor's Business 2025\" width=\"136\" height=\"132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP02-BACH-Business-2025_OL-300x292.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP02-BACH-Business-2025_OL-1024x996.png 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP02-BACH-Business-2025_OL-768x747.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP02-BACH-Business-2025_OL.png 1038w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 136px) 100vw, 136px\" \/>The online MBA programs ranked significantly higher this year moving from #260 to #75 in the nation. Other NAU Online programs that made the list were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Programs for Veterans, #27<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Master\u2019s in Education Programs for Veterans at #28<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Bachelor&#8217;s in Psychology Programs, #35<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Master\u2019s in Business Programs for Veterans, #37<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Master\u2019s in Nursing Programs, #69<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Master\u2019s in Business Programs, #93<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Master\u2019s in Education Programs, #97<\/li>\n<li>Best Online Bachelor&#8217;s in Business Programs, #80<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fully-online programs offered through NAU Online empower the education goals of non-traditional learners of all ages, members of the military, and working professionals who want to increase their value in the workplace by earning a degree that will help them achieve their career goals.\u00a0NAU Online enrolled 4,901 online students as of Fall 2024 census, which represents more than 17% of the students enrolled at the university.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-74914\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025-297x300.png\" alt=\"Best Online Program: U.S. News &amp; World Report: Veterans Bachelors 2025\" width=\"129\" height=\"130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025-1014x1024.png 1014w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025-768x775.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2025\/05\/BOP04-BACH-VET-2025.png 1037w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 129px) 100vw, 129px\" \/>\u201cWe have seen tremendous growth in the online programs that are aligned with regional workforce demand, especially with degrees focused on technology, nursing and healthcare, management, and human services,\u201d said<strong> Carmin Chan<\/strong>, vice provost of NAU Online. \u201cThis also builds upon NAU\u2019s longstanding reputation for training classroom educators and community leaders across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chan said her team has been focused in four guiding priorities; enhancing the academic experience and the online learning environment; developing tailored online student support services; implementing operational improvements; and refining the portfolio of online programs.\u00a0Each of these goals is focused on offering an intentionally designed online student experience where students feel a sense of belonging as an Online Lumberjack throughout their education journey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur online program rankings are a testament to the dedicated faculty and staff who work together to offer exceptional digital learning opportunities and expand access for students across the southwest region,\u201d said Chan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Geraldine Begay-Yazzie<\/strong> graduated with a bachelor\u2019s in early childhood education with the support of the NAU Online team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat challenged me was that I decided to go back to school at age 56,\u201d Begay-Yazzie said. \u201cThe surprise for me is that I finished within three semesters. I overcame the thought that it was too late for me to finish my degree, and to go back to school at my age. I had so many people who helped me get through this journey, the professors, my advisor, my enrollment advisor, and my family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Heiley Wingert<\/strong> is an NAU alumna who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of social work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLearning online was exactly what I needed,\u201d Wingert said. \u201cI was able to work independently and get ahead on assignments I knew I needed extra time on. It allowed me to continue working full time, although it was challenging to manage both at times, specifically nearing the end of my program while completing my internship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This program is set to continue growing and making improvements. This year, NAU Online will launch several new undergraduate and graduate programs that will lead to high-demand, high-skill, high-wage (H3) careers including degrees focused on technology, business, and the natural environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNAU offers an impressive number of educational partnerships that make NAU more affordable for working professional adult learners from companies, governmental agencies, and school districts across the state,\u201d Chan said. \u201cWe also offer competency-based online programs available to students abroad through our partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/beacon-graduation\/\">Beacon Education<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/online-education\/northern-arizona-university-1082\/bachelors\">U.S. News &amp; World Report<\/a> ranks programs based on student engagement; student services and technology; faculty credentials and training; and expert opinion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/nau-online\/\">NAU Online is recognized amongst the top 20% of the nation\u2019s best online programs with several strong placements in the 2025 Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Program rankings released on Tuesday by U.S News &amp; World Report. Offering high-quality, affordable and flexible online programs designed to mirror the rigor and value of on campus programs has been&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":73787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}