In its current list of online program rankings, published in late January, U.S. News & World Report ranked GW Engineering as the 12th best online graduate engineering program in the country, tied with Texas A&M University and University of Florida. This is an increase from #16 in last year’s rankings, leapfrogging Arizona State University, University of Maryland, and Missouri University of Science & Technology.
Additional impressive GW online graduate engineering rankings include: 4th best private university, 9th best master’s in engineering management, 13th best master’s in engineering programs for veterans, and 18th best master’s in industrial engineering. U.S. News ranks schools according to various recognized indicators of excellence, including student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessment, student excellence, and services and technologies.
GW Provost Christopher A. Bracey has previously spoken about the importance of offering students online degree and certification programs and expressed his commitment to raising their profile at the university. He said he is pleased by the University’s showing in the current rankings.
“The strong rankings of our online programs are a testament to our continued focus on meeting the needs of our students and delivering a high-quality, transformational education wherever they are in their lives and careers,” Bracey said. “As we continue to relentlessly pursue excellence in teaching and research, online education will remain an essential element of our academic programming.”
Professor Shahram Sarkani, Director of GW Engineering’s online programs stated, “I am proud of the well-deserved recognition that GW's excellence and leadership in online engineering education has received. It is great to see the significant achievements that GW Engineering has made towards being recognized as a leader in online engineering education which is truly the wave of the future.” He added, “Being a leader in online engineering education strengthens GW’s reputation as a major national institution.”
As reflected in the rankings, GW Engineering online programs are broadly known for their quality and student support, including strong student satisfaction and graduation rates. But they are also known for their highly innovative pedagogies and unique degree programs that support the needs of working professionals and address emerging areas of societal need. For example, programs in Engineering Management, Cloud Computing Management, Cybersecurity Analytics, and Cybersecurity Policy are focused on workplace relevance and are therefore different from most graduate engineering programs. In addition, Doctor of Engineering programs provide a doctoral degree alternative to the PhD that is based on applied research and works on a timeline that is more conducive to working professionals. This combination of quality and innovation has led to enrollment increases of 25% over the last 3 years.
GW Engineering Dean, John Lach, had this to say about the online rankings: “Professor Sarkani and our online team have worked tirelessly and creatively to put GW Engineering into a position of leadership in online engineering education. Our online programs help our students advance their careers and prepare them to be global leaders for the mid-21st century.”