STATESBORO — Georgia Southern University is home to some of the nation’s best online education programs, according to the 2014 Best Online Programs list from U.S. News & World Report.

For the third consecutive year, GSU was recognized for giving students the freedom and flexibility to help them earn degrees on their own time while balancing careers, families and other commitments.

U.S. News surveyed nearly a thousand colleges and universities that offer online degrees. Here are the rankings for Georgia Southern:
• Best online graduate computer information technology programs (No. 23)
• Best online graduate education programs (No. 50)
• Best online graduate business programs (No. 64)
• Best online bachelor’s programs (No. 160).

“Once again, Georgia Southern University is proud to be recognized for its top-ranked programs,” said Provost Jean Bartels. “Faculty in all programs are recognized for their dedicated efforts to create and administer the best of online education to students both in state and beyond.  Broadening the reach of a Georgia Southern education has been a goal, now recognized, for the university.”

The third annual survey examined a variety of areas including student engagement, student services and technology, faculty credentials and training, admissions selectivity and peer reputation. The rankings cover online bachelor’s degrees and online master’s degrees in engineering, nursing, education, computer information technology and business.

“Our college is relentlessly pushing to create greater quality and value for our graduates, alumni and business partners,” said College of Business Administration Dean Allen Amason. “This is the underlying value added that rankings are meant to reflect. So, we are gratified to see our hard work appreciated and having the impact that we desire.”

According to U.S News, only degree-granting programs offering courses that are 100 percent online were considered for the rankings.

“We’re pleased to be in the top tier, said College of Education Dean Thomas R. Koballa Jr. “Our online classes meet high standards for excellence. We have a committed faculty trained to teach distance learners, and students from across the region and state know they will be engaged in a rigorous graduate program that furthers their career as an educator in many professional settings.”

See the Best Online Programs list by visiting www.usnews.com/education/online-education.