PHOTO CAPTION: OnlineDegrees.com said Ferris State University’s online program was
ranked third in their most recent “Top 10 Colleges in Michigan Offering Online Degrees.”
A California-based online education resource has noted Ferris State University online
undergraduate and graduate-level degree and certificate programs have been ranked
third-best among all Michigan colleges based on their review of recent government
reports.
OnlineDegrees.com’s “Top 10 Colleges in Michigan offering online degrees” ranking further emphasized
considerations such as the percentage of students offered financial aid, providing
credit based on a student’s life experience and added benefit for Advanced Placement
Credit. Amy Greene, executive director of Online Learning in Ferris’ Extended and
International Operations unit, said the pursuit of instructional excellence benefits
students whose experiences are entirely online, along with those in statewide or main-campus
programs who complete general education and elective courses in this manner.
“Data collected by the Babson Survey Research group, in collaboration with the Online Learning Consortium which was published this year, shows 30 percent of college students in the United States took at least one online course in 2015-16,” Greene said. “By 2019, it is projected that 50 percent of all classes will be delivered online. The eLearning team at Ferris continuously seeks innovative ways to use technology-enhanced pedagogy to provide more flexibility for students and clear the path to graduation.”
Greene said an example of Ferris’ innovative methodology includes express formats, such as Wintermester, an interim instructional period, which will be offered between the traditional fall-and winter-semester programming.
“As we strive to provide the best experience for our Ferris students, and their success after graduation, the eLearning team uses trends and projections in higher education to build the foundation for our future online initiatives,” Greene said. “We also provide Double Robots, an iPad-based telepresence system, so our students can participate remotely in university-related events.”
Ferris provides the opportunity to earn 11 undergraduate degrees with curriculum delivered entirely online, along with six graduate degrees and a variety of certificate programs.
OnlineDegrees.com said its ranking of top colleges offering online degrees is based on data received from the National Center for Education Statistics, while factoring in a college or university’s accreditation, average amount of aid received and graduation rates.