The University of Missouri–St. Louis ranked No. 11 nationally in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. (Graphic by Erin Hart)

Demand for online education continues to grow throughout the country with more students favoring the accessibility and flexibility that online programs can provide.

At the University of Missouri–St. Louis, students who choose to pursue their degrees online can feel confident they aren’t sacrificing quality.

Today, U.S. News & World Report ranked UMSL No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in Missouri on its annual list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. The university made one of the biggest jumps of any university in the rankings, climbing 96 places from last year.

“We are deeply committed to ensuring that a high-quality college education is accessible to all, and we appreciate U.S. News & World Report recognizing the strides we continue to make in our online programs so that our students balancing work, family and other responsibilities can continue pursuing and achieving their academic goals,” said Steven J. Berberich, UMSL’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Our online students are actively engaged and intellectually challenged in their courses, receiving strong support to graduate equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for long-term success.”

The U.S. News Best Online Programs rankings are now in their 14th year. The latest edition included evaluations of more than 1,800 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs from 350 accredited institutions using metrics specific to online learning, including class sizes, graduation rates, faculty credentials, peer assessments and student indebtedness.

“What sets the top-ranked online programs apart is their commitment to delivering flexible coursework for professionals, parents and service members seeking to advance their careers and broaden their knowledge,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “Our rigorous evaluation focuses on student engagement and support to highlight programs truly built for the modern learner.”

UMSL offers more than 20 bachelor’s degree programs 100% online, and students can choose from a range of disciplines, from business administration, communication and cybersecurity to nursing, psychology and public administration.

The university also scored highly among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, coming in fifth nationally. It marked the first time UMSL was included in the rankings. To be considered, a school must first rank in the top half of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings and also be certified for the GI Bill and enroll a significant number of student veterans and active service members.

Driving business success

UMSL’s Ed G. Smith College of Business landed in the Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs for the first time, coming in at No. 47, and it scored even better in the highly competitive Online MBA rankings. UMSL’s Online MBA program ranked No. 33 nationally – and No. 1 in Missouri – after debuting at No. 46 in the rankings last year.

UMSL ranked No. 33 nationally in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of Best Online MBA programs. That was an improvement of 13 places from last year. (Graphic by Erin Hart)

The Online MBA program was launched in 2021 to provide busy adults with a path to earn their master’s degree in business administration to move ahead in their careers in only 16 months.

Ekin Pellegrini, UMSL’s associate dean for graduate business programs as well as the founding director of the Doctor of Business Administration program, said the Online MBA was created using a systems-thinking approach that prioritizes career progression, global exposure and long-term return on investment. The cohort-based model provides students with experiential learning through hands-on application of core business principles as well as personalized leadership coaching.

Students in the capstone strategy course also engage in an international consulting project that provides them firsthand insight into global business operations. In recent years, students have worked with businesses in Panama, Costa Rica and Chile, and the cohort graduating next December is expected to engage with industry in Quito, Ecuador.

“The Online MBA program was designed with a mindful focus on differentiation, and we were confident it would stand out in today’s competitive MBA market,” said Pellegrini, who credited program leaders Francesca Ferrari and Sierra Phipps for their work not only overseeing the program but ensuring U.S. News and World Report evaluators had a complete picture of its measurable outcomes.

“Achieving this level of recognition so early in the program’s lifecycle has exceeded even our most ambitious expectations,” Pellegrini said. “It is deeply gratifying for our staff and faculty to see our vision realized.”