18 distance learning students took part in 2014 Fall Commencement. The overall distance learning graduating class totaled 65. Photo by Mariel Santos.
For the second year in a row, the Distance Learning Center at UW-Superior earned a high ranking from U.S. News and World Report
18 distance learning students took part in 2014 Fall Commencement. The overall distance learning graduating class totaled 65. Photo by Mariel Santos.
When it comes to educating students online, the University of Wisconsin-Superior is among the nation’s best, according to the latest survey from U.S. News and World Report Best Online Education Program Rankings for 2015.
UW-Superior is ranked 23rd overall for best online bachelor’s programs in the country and the top school within the UW System, region and in the state of Wisconsin. View the complete 2015 online rankings.
“We are so pleased to receive this designation,” said UW-Superior Chancellor Renée Wachter. “It recognizes the high quality of our academic programs and faculty as well as the services we provide to help students be successful.”
UW-Superior’s distance learning program, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2013, is one of the oldest in the state and the first to offer self-paced independent learning leading to a degree. The program went online in 1999.
To be considered for the rankings, only degree-granting programs offering courses that are 100 percent online are eligible. The schools were ranked according to student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, and student services and technology.
Today, 613, or 24 percent, of UW-Superior’s students are seeking online degrees. More than 75 percent of these students are women, and most are between the ages of 25 and 49. Nine out of ten students have some prior college education. More than 85 percent are working;60 percent are employed full time.
“The university plans to double the number of online students by 2020,” said Wachter. “We will continue to stay abreast of national trends in higher education, offering multiple vehicles for degree completion to meet student needs and workforce demands.”
UW-Superior offers six bachelor degree options for online learners:
- Communicating Arts
- Elementary Education
- Exercise Science
- Health and Wellness Management
- Interdisciplinary Studies/Individually Designed
- Sustainable ManagementAn online Master’s Degree in Sustainable Management -the first in the country -was introduced in 2013.
“Students say high-quality advising services, in-demand majors, flexible schedules, and high standards are what drew them to pursue their online degrees at UW-Superior,” said Christina Kline, interim director of the UW-Superior Distance Learning Center. “Our focus is on giving students a top quality education and a highly personalized experience with our dedicated faculty and staff.”
Source: Tom Hansen | 715-394-8260 | 
thansen7@uwsuper.edu
