Considered the gold standard of college rankings, on January 21, U.S. News & World released its report of the 2025 Best Online Programs. Johnson & Wales University College of Professional Studies has again been recognized in two categories of the 2025 U.S. News Rankings for Online Programs, ranked in the categories Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.
Recognizing that flexibility is critical to nontraditional learners seeking to further their education, U.S. News stated, “The Best Online Programs rankings will help connect them with flexible programs that best fit their needs.”
Cindy Parker, Vice President of Johnson & Wales College of Professional Studies declared,“We are proud of our US News & World Report rankings for 2025 in an increasingly competitive market for online higher education. These rankings provide validation of the quality of our academic programs and support our brand and reputation. The rankings can shape perceptions and influence choices among prospective students who are interested in our academic programs.”
According to Eric Brooks and Jessica Lou (2025) of U.S. News, “The vast majority of students enrolled in these ranked programs have earned at least some college credit. For working adults with some college credit, completing a four-year degree online may be the most practical way to obtain the knowledge and credentials needed to boost their careers.”
How Were the 2025 Program Rankings Determined?
U.S. News stresses that programs, not schools, are ranked. U.S. News considers only degree-granting programs, that are housed at regionally accredited institutions, and offer predominantly online classes needed to complete the degree. Selected factors, known as ranking indicators, are used to assess each program within its defined category.
For the 2025 edition, U.S. News assessed 1,780 online degree programs and ranked the vast majority of them. U.S. News qualifies that the Best Online Programs rankings measure whether online degree programs have academic standards that are equal in quality to brick-and-mortar (on-campus) programs, for which the teaching methods, learning activities and assignments are appropriately adapted for distance education.
The rankings measured overall academic quality at the baccalaureate levels and also ranked the best programs for military veterans and active-duty service members, which credits strong academic programs for enrolling veterans and for making available ample financial benefits linked to federal programs.
Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
A program’s score for each ranking indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey and from data collected in a separate peer assessment survey.
Highly ranked programs have strong traditional academic foundations based on student-instructor access, graduation and retention rates and faculty credentials and training. Other factors considered include services and technologies, expert opinion (academic reputation ranked by top academics). While these programs excel at educating online learners, they also offer robust career and financial support.
Best Online Bachelor’s Programs For Veterans
U.S. News qualifies that the rankings for Best Online Programs for Veterans track closely with the overall rankings because a program’s overall rank is factored heavily in the formula. The rankings include only schools in the top half of the overall Best Online Programs rankings that enrolled a critical threshold of veterans and active service members, and where tuition is often fully covered by federal veterans benefits.
Interested in an Online Bachelor’s Degree Program?
Prospective students can read more about the methodologies used to rank the programs and see how online programs at Johnson & Wales compare with programs at other institutions at U.S. News.
For more information about enrolling at Johnson & Wales College of Professional Studies, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].