U.S. News & World Report has ranked three Metropolitan College online programs among the best in the nation. In its 2015 comparison of the nation’s best online programs, the magazine ranked MET’s master of criminal justice program second in the nation, the master of science in computer information systems third, and the master’s degree programs in management ninth.

In the publisher’s first ranking of Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs, MET’s fully online program was among 55 graduate programs listed, tying for the number-two spot with Arizona State University and Pace University, and topped only by the University of California, Irvine. U.S. News & World Report chief data strategist Robert Morse explains that the study of criminal justice was included because “according to the National Center for Education Statistics and other sources, it is one of the most popular and fastest growing disciplines on which U.S. News was not already collecting data.”

In a comparison of the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs, MET’s fully online master’s in computer information systems placed in the top 3 of 42 schools listed for the second year in a row, preceded only by the University of Southern California and Virginia Tech.

Among the Best Online Graduate Business Programs, MET’s master’s degree programs in management—also fully online—tied for ninth with the University of San Diego among the 127 listed schools.

U.S. News & World Report judged schools on a variety of factors, among them faculty credentials and training, admissions selectivity, student services and technology, student engagement, and peer reputation. “These rankings serve as an important tool for prospective students as they select an institution,” says Tanya Zlateva, MET dean ad interim. “MET’s outstanding results reflect and affirm the superior online learning experience offered by our faculty, facilitators, and staff.”

Zlateva says the excellence of MET’s academics reflects the quality of its students. “Their motivation—along with their professional credentials, academic contributions, and dedication—continues to make MET a unique and vibrant academic community,” she says.

MET offers more than 20 online degree and certificate programs; a total of 31 online programs is offered by the University.

“We take a tremendous amount of pride in our work to create outstanding experiences for online students that are built on a quality, pedagogically sound foundation,” says Eric Friedman, director of distance education. The University has been recognized with several honors and awards for its online programming, most recently the 2014 Blackboard Catalyst Award, Directors Choice for Courses with Distinction, and the 2014 US Distance Learning Association Best Practices Platinum Award.

Introduced in 2002, MET’s master of criminal justice was BU’s first online degree program. The degree is also offered on campus.

MET’s computer science department—established in 1979 as the first such department at Boston University—introduced the online version of its master’s in computer information systems in 2004 and has continued to add relevant degree concentrations over the past decade.

The MET administrative sciences programs are accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development Program Accreditation System and the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Programs. The college offers 20 degree and certificate programs, including the 5 online degrees in management (introduced in 2005).

“Recognition must go to MET’s outstanding faculty, academic departments, and chairs, as well as to our dedicated online program directors, remarkable online facilitators, and the offices of distance education and educational technology research—who all demonstrate a superior level of collaborative commitment to producing a rewarding digital learning experience,” says Lou Chitkushev (ENG’96), MET’s associate dean for academic affairs.