Valdosta State University is one of the Best Online Colleges in Georgia for 2015-2016, according to TheBestSchools.org and AffordableCollegesOnline.org.

To determine its Top 10 Best Online Colleges in Georgia rankings, TheBestSchools.org analyzed data from colleges and universities across the Peach State with online degrees at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. VSU came in at No. 5, based on the quality of its programs, the types of courses and degrees offered, the strength of its faculty, as well as its awards, rankings, and reputation. 

AffordableCollegesOnline.org’s goal centered on determining which colleges and universities in Georgia offer the most notable balances of academic rigor, student support, and affordability for online learning. VSU came in at No. 15 on its list of the Top 22 Best Online Colleges in Georgia. 

“We wanted to highlight the schools in each state that are driving innovative learning and meeting demands of students,” said Dan Schuessler, chief executive officer and founder of AffordableCollegesOnline.org.

Earlier this year, Accredited Schools Online ranked VSU at No. 17 on its list of the Top 24 Best Online Schools in Georgia.  

“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.”

VSU offers more than 40 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees; endorsements; certificates; and minors online. Beginning this fall, the university will add a new one to the list — a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and religious studies.  

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.