The University of West Florida and Pensacola State College were among the nation's best in the U.S. News and World Report Best Online College of 2025 rankings.
UWF and Pensacola State both ranked 39th out of more than 350 institutions for the best online bachelor's programs in the rankings released this week.
UWF also ranks 25th for Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans – the university's highest ranking to date in that category. The rank measures an institution's veteran or active duty enrollment and GI Bill certification.
The recent rankings mark an improvement from 2024, when UWF's online bachelor's programs ranked 45th for Best Online Bachelor's Programs and 30th for Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans.
PSC's online RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program also ranked second among 28 Florida College System institutions and seventh among all public and private colleges and universities in Florida. The university's online RN to BSN program has moved up two spots from its 2024 position.
UWF President Martha Saunders said the rankings are a testament to the university's commitment to high-quality online programming for more than 25 years.
“As early adopters of distance learning, we have learned a lot about excellence in delivering courses online,” she said.
Dr. Saunders summarizes 2024: UWF celebrates a year of growth and pride in achievements in 2024 | Opinion
Overall, U.S. News and World Report recognized UWF in several categories for Best Online Programs – bachelor's degree; MBA; Master Business (non-MBA); Master of Nursing; Master Information Technology; Masters in Criminal Justice and Masters in Education.
In addition to Best Online Bachelor's Program for Veterans, UWF is also ranked for Best Online Programs for Veterans in the following categories: Master's in Nursing; MBA; Master Business (non-MBA); Master Information Technology; and master's degree.
As of December, 447 students earned a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Pensacola State.
“Since its inception in 2011, PSC's online RN to BSN program has been designed to accommodate working healthcare professionals and provide the flexibility needed to balance career and personal commitments,” said Ed Meadows, president of the university .
PSC director of nursing Dr. Corey Lofton attributed the program's success to its rigorous, evidence-based curriculum and faculty.
“The program emphasizes hands-on learning opportunities, state-of-the-art resources and strong partnerships with healthcare organizations, clinical affiliates and community partnerships to ensure students are well prepared for real-world challenges,” Lofton added.
The ranking assesses more than 1,600 distance bachelor's and master's courses. Only fully online courses, from entry to completion of the academic year, are included in the ranking. In September 2024, U.S. News and World Report ranked UWF among the top 10 public institutions in the region.
For more information about the U.S. News and World Report 2025 rankings, visit usnews.com/best-colleges.
This article originally appeared in Pensacola News Journal: U.S. News and World Report give high marks to UWF and PSC
