Fifteen online master’s degree programs at Missouri University of Science and Technology are ranked among the best in the country in four categories, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 Best Online Programs Rankings.

The U.S. News and World Report rankings were released today (Wednesday, Jan. 7) and are available online at www.usnews.com. U.S. News plans to include the online program rankings in both the “Best Graduate Schools 2016” and “Best Colleges 2016” guidebooks, which will be published later this year.

Missouri S&T’s online graduate engineering programs were tied for 20th place overall and ranked 17th among public universities. S&T offers online graduate degree programs in 12 disciplines: aerospace engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, environmental engineering, explosives engineering, geotechnics, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, mining engineering and systems engineering.

Missouri S&T’s online graduate computer information technology programs ranked 26th overall and placed 16th among public universities. S&T offers online graduate degrees in computer science and information science and technology.

Missouri S&T’s online graduate business program (excluding the online MBA program) tied for 28th overall and ranked 18th among public universities. S&T offers an online business program in information science and technology.

Missouri S&T’s online MBA program tied for 55th overall and ranked 41st among public universities. This is the first year U.S. News ranked online MBA programs separately.

“Missouri S&T provides outstanding education that meets the needs of today’s professional seeking advanced degrees,” says Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader. “We are pleased that these rankings recognize Missouri S&T’s commitment to delivering an exceptional return on investment.”

For the 2015 Best Online Degree Programs rankings, U.S. News compiled a list of public, private and for-profit colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer master’s degree programs online, then collected data from each of those schools. In calculating the rankings, U.S. News officials looked at student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, admissions selectivity, and student services and technology.

Missouri S&T began its first online degree program – in engineering management – in 1998. Today S&T offers online graduate degree programs in 17 disciplines. More information about Missouri S&T’s online degree programs is available online at dce.mst.edu.