Clarkson College Named Among Top Nebraska Schools for Online Education & ROI

Affordable Colleges Online, a leading resource for online learning and college affordability information, ranked Clarkson College No. 3 in Nebraska for return on investment of a college education and  6th in the category of Best Online Colleges in Nebraska for 2016-2017. This is the second year in a row the College received recognition in these categories.

Affordable Colleges (AC) Online calculated ROI by averaging a graduate’s lifetime earnings and subtracting the total cost of attendance. The top five colleges in Nebraska with the highest ROI are:

  1. Creighton University
  2. University of Nebraska – Lincoln
  3. Clarkson College
  4. University of Nebraska – Omaha
  5. Nebraska Wesleyan University

Affordable Colleges Online identified 11 four-year colleges and universities in Nebraska that offer fully online programs. To find the best online colleges for the 2016-2017 school year, researchers and higher education experts at AC Online collected and analyzed data from every accredited postsecondary institution in the state. The institutions selected offer the most notable balances of academic rigor, student support and affordability for online learning.

In order for colleges and universities to qualify for this ranking they must be a public or private not-for-profit institution and offer at least three online baccalaureate degree programs with an annual tuition fee less than $25,000.

Qualifying schools were then evaluated based on:

  • Published tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students
  • Percent of full-time undergraduate students receiving institutional financial aid
  • Number of online programs offered
  • Student to Teacher Ratio

“We are proud to be recognized again in these categories this year, as our focus of affordable quality education continues to drive our efforts,” said Dr. Tony Damewood, President of Clarkson College. “These rankings reaffirm we are on the right track and that the value to the student is the most important part of the higher education equation.”

According to a recent study by the Babson Survey Research Group, the online student population in the country is now over 7 million, including 19,000 Nebraska undergraduates who are enrolled in at least one distance learning program.

“We wanted to highlight the schools in each state that are driving innovative learning and meeting demands of students,” said Dan Schuessler, CEO and Founder of AC Online. “These schools are not only offering great programs, but they have expanded their program excellence to the much-desired online environment.”

An in-depth look at the Best Online Colleges in Nebraska for 2016-2017 can be seen at: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/nebraska/

Affordable Colleges Online has distinguished its ranking scale by the use of Peer-Based Value, which compares the cost of each program to the cost of similar programs with the same qualitative score.