Boise State University was listed as one of the Best Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Online Programs in 2022 by the website, OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD).
OMD, a national ranking body that uses the U.S. Department of Education data, analyzed more than 7,700 schools to create an algorithm to rank 70 unique master’s degree subjects. Only 6 percent of postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position, according to OMD.
To qualify, a school must hold active accreditation and have academic counseling and career placement services available to students. Primary ranking factors included availability of programs with an online component, number of programs in subject area, and metrics considering cost as well as the impact of institutional aid.
Boise State’s Master of Social Work Online recently celebrated its fifth anniversary as one of the university’s most popular online degree programs. In Fall 2021, the program had 410 active students and 609 graduates, crossing the 1,000-student threshold. With a 90% retention rate among students and high satisfaction rates reported by students and faculty, the program itself is a resounding success.
“While accessibility played a major role in our rankings, we also rewarded colleges and universities with a clear focus on student success,” Kyle Darland, co-founder of OnlineMastersDegrees.org, said. “Each school in our rankings has both academic counseling and career placement services available to its students. These are must-haves in higher education today.”
OMD’s rankings come at a time when demand for master’s degree programs is on the rise. In October of 2021, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reported a 7.3 percent increase in first-time graduate student enrollment in Fall 2020. First-time, part-time student enrollment rose by 13.5 percent. The CGS report cites the growth of online and hybrid learning options as a primary driver of these trends.