Online university rankings tend to come in a few forms. By knowing what these basic forms are you can understand what you are likely to come across in your search for online university rankings and how to best use the information that you find. Take a look at the main forms of online university rankings and what they mean to you.

List Rankings

List rankings are probably the form with which you are most familiar. This is where the best online university as determined by the list makes it to the top spot and other highly ranked online universities follow suit. This type of ranking system is not difficult to interpret because it is not hard to tell which university is the best.

What you need to know about list rankings is that not everyone who compiles these rankings comes up with the same list and not everyone is impartial. Schools can create their own rankings to give themselves a favourable position or anyone can create a list using any measurement standards that they choose. Given these possibilities, the reliability of list rankings is not always assured.

Online University Reviews

Another type of ranking is the type done by actual students. Reviews by students take a lot more time to sift through but can provide a wealth of valuable information when you want to know more about the actual experience of being enrolled in programs from online universities. You will certainly not be limited to the positive aspects of the online university experience.

While these reviews are highly subjective, you can get a good idea of what an online university is like by paying attention to the trends. If the majority of students love one aspect of a particular online university then you can probably believe that. The same goes for any widely held negative beliefs.

Not every review that you come across is going to provide you with valuable information about an online university but if you stray from the universities that are deemed the absolute best then these reviews will help you to determine the quality of online university programs. They will also help you to see what might not be so great about the best online universities.

Online university rankings are a blessing. They help you to learn about the quality and experience of online programs before you start. Just know the two main types and use them well.

With the demand for college education increasing every year and due to the lack of space in traditional public universities and community colleges, earning an online degree is becoming a more viable and acceptable option. Below are the top 10 largest online universities. All are accredited and offer degrees in multiple subjects ranging from healthcare to education to business.

	University of Phoenix — At the University of Phoenix, a student body of over 420,000 study one of 100 degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral levels at more than 200 campuses worldwide. The University of Phoenix has an open enrollment policy, and offers a variety of flexible online courses.
	Strayer University — Programs at Strayer University are designed for working adults seeking career advancement. At its more than 75 campuses, Strayer provides instruction leading to degrees in accounting, business, criminal justice, information systems, management, public administration, health services administration, and education.
	Kaplan University — Kaplan University offers degrees at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's level. In addition, students may pursue certificates in education, business, information technology, arts and sciences, healthcare, nursing, criminal justice, and law.
	Walden University — Through its online program, Walden University confers the Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Education Specialist (Ed.S.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), and Ph.D. Graduates are successful throughout the spectrum of the workforce.
	Nova Southeastern University — Nova Southeastern University is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning dedicated to providing students an unparalleled education at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. Programs are offered both in traditional in class and distance learning. The university focuses on intellectual inquiry, leadership, and commitment to community.
	Liberty University — Located in Virginia, Liberty University has over 12,000 residential students and more than 45,000 online students, making it one of the largest Christian universities in the world. Students experience a 23:1 student-to-professor ratio, and can choose from more than 115 programs of undergraduate or graduate courses, residential, online or hybrid options.
	American InterContinental University — American InterContinental University features both in class and online courses leading to associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The university offers programs in business administration, criminal justice, education, healthcare management, information technology, marketing, and visual communication.
	Capella University — Capella University's online programs confer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in business, information technology, education, psychology, public health, public safety, and human services. Composed of mostly graduate students, Capella's student body hail from all 50 states and 55 countries.
	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. Grand Canyon University offers its student body of more than 25,000 online and campus-based courses at the bachelor's and master's level. The university emphasizes individual attention for both the traditional and working professional student.
	Ashford University — Ashford University offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees both on campus and online. The university, founded in 1918, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Student Government Association produces a variety of activities on campus, including intramurals, homecoming, and a host of extracurricular activities.
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