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Credit: Michael Cobbin
Cleveland State University is ranked between 331-440 in the National Universities category of the 2023 U.S. News & World Report.

Cleveland State ranks among top online programs

U.S News & World Report’s annual university program rankings recognize the quality of CSU's online programs, a boost for the school, given its enrollment problems.
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Cleveland State University was again recognized in 2023 by U.S. News & World Report as having some of the nation's leading online programs.

The annual report ranked the university in four categories: Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, Best Online Master’s in Education Programs, Best Online Master’s in Business Programs and Best Online in Nursing Programs.

In a CSU press release about the rankings, Sajit Zachariah, Ph.D, vice provost and dean of CSU Online, discussed their importance. 

“These rankings highlight the recognition of the quality of our online programs at CSU,” Zachariah said. “Providing access to excellent online programs to the communities we serve is an important focus of our strategic plan.”

The rankings would be welcome news for the administration, given CSU's enrollment problem, and steps in the strategic plan known as CSU 2.0 to boost enrollment, including by adding 1,500 online students by 2025.

U.S News & World Report looked at degree-granting online programs at institutions around the region and ranked those offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees among the seven types of curriculum surveyed. Despite criticism of the rankings -- leading some top universities to stop working with U.S. News & World Report -- they remain one of the few easily accessible national guides prospective students have of the potential value of what a college offers.

CSU has fared well in the rankings since the mid 2000s when former CSU President Michael Schwartz ended open enrollment and moved the university from a fourth-tier to a second-tier institution. 

“With all of our programs, we strive to provide an excellent academic experience for our students, both on and off campus,” CSU President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D., said in the news release. “Our faculty members and administrators work diligently to create online courses that are engaging, challenging, and transformative.”

Bloomberg added that Cleveland State has been able to exceed expectations of students continuing their education outside of the classroom. 

In addition to its recognition of the university's online programs, U.S News & World Report ranked CSU #1 for social mobility in Ohio.