Valdosta State University is one of the Best Online Schools in Georgia for 2015-2016, according to Accredited Schools Online.

“Online programs and courses are an area of consistent growth for VSU,” said Meg H. Giddings, director of VSU’s Office of Extended Learning. “Our programs integrate the flexibility of online programs with exceptional and student-focused faculty and support. From the post-traditional student who balances a job, children, and a spouse and is looking for fully online learning opportunities to the on-campus student customizing their student experience by integrating online and in-seat courses in a term, online programs and courses are making a customized learning opportunity a reality for many VSU students. Ultimately our graduates earn a degree from a traditional institution that they know and trust.”

To determine its rankings, Accredited Schools Online analyzed data from hundreds of institutions of higher education across the nation with online degrees at the bachelor’s level. Its goal was to determine which colleges and universities offer the most notable balances of academic rigor, student support, and affordability for online learning. 

A total of 24 colleges and universities made the final cut for the Best Online Schools in Georgia for 2015-2016 rankings. VSU came in at No. 17 overall and also received accolades for being among the Best for Women in Technology (schools for women interested in technology or engineering) and Best Schools Fighting for Families (schools for students interested in social work). 

“We wanted to recognize schools that are implementing convenient and cutting-edge technological learning opportunities to all students,” said Doug Jones, chief educative officer and founder of Accredited Schools Online. “These schools are not only offering exceptional programs, but they also have expanded their program excellence to the much-desired online environment.”

VSU offers more than 40 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees; endorsements; certificates; and minors online.

Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, French language and literature, legal assistant studies, or Spanish language and literature; a Bachelor of Applied Science in human capital performance; a Bachelor of Business Administration in management; a Bachelor of Science in office administration and technology or organizational leadership.

Graduate students can pursue a Master of Education in adult and career education, curriculum and instruction in accomplished teaching, early childhood education, health and physical education, instructional technology, or middle grades math and science; an Education Specialist in coaching pedagogy, educational leadership, instructional technology, school counseling, or teacher leadership; a Master of Science in criminal justice; a Master of Arts in English studies for language arts teachers; a Master of Science in Nursing in family psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner; a Master of Business Administration in health care administration or through the Georgia WebMBA intiative; a Doctor of Education in leadership; a Master of Library and Information Science; a Master of Public Administration or Doctor of Public Administration; a Master of Arts in Teaching in special education adapted curriculum or special education general curriculum

VSU also offers an endorsement in English to speakers of other languages, online teaching, reading, or gifted in-field; a certificate in European Union studies, online teaching, performance-based leadership, Spanish for professionals, teaching English to speakers of other languages, or library media; a minor in French language and literature or Spanish language and literature; and more.  

Some of VSU’s online programs are offered through eMajor, a statewide initiative that allows colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia to collaborate on in-demand degree programs and offer them in an accelerated online format to students at their respective institutions.

“VSU offers a wide array of online programs at the undergraduate and graduate level,” Giddings said. “Our programs are designed to meet the needs of our traditional students as well as post-traditional students who wish to return to school to complete a degree they started previously or to start their collegiate career for the very first time.”