Georgia College online master’s programs ranked among best in nation by U.S. News & World Report

By Mike Cavaliere

G eorgia College & State University's online master's programs were ranked among the top 100 in the country, and among the top five in Georgia, in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings, released today.

The university's master's degree in nursing ranked No. 1 in Georgia and tied for No. 17 in the country, among both public and private institutions.

GCSU's online master's degrees in criminal justice and business, and its Master of Business Administration program ranked highly, as well, each earning the distinction of being ranked No. 2 in Georgia in their respective categories. The master's degree in education tied for the fifth-best program of its kind in the state, along with Kennesaw State University and Georgia Southern University.

"These top rankings in online education reflect Georgia College & State University's unwavering commitment to the student experience," said Georgia College President Cathy Cox. "Through our 32 different graduate programs, our faculty members strive to offer students unique and meaningful learning opportunities that prepare them to step into or advance in dynamic careers. We understand that graduate students often need flexibility to pursue secondary degrees, and we're dedicated to providing those options through distance learning without sacrificing the personal connections that make this university such a special place to learn."

Nationally, the graduate-level criminal justice degree program placed No. 27 out of 96 total programs ranked, while business placed No. 56 out of 205 schools ranked. Of 313 universities ranked in the education category nationwide, GCSU's program placed 85th. Nationally, the Master of Business Administration program placed 135 of 255 total institutions ranked, among both public and private institutions.

A Period of Growth

This year's rankings reinforce a trend of upward mobility for Georgia College, with several of the recognized programs showing growth over U.S. News & World Report's previous year's findings. The university's Nursing program, for instance, jumped 11 spots in this year's report, while criminal justice showed even larger gains, leaping 23 spots over its placement last year.

Virtual programs at Georgia College & State University cater exclusively to masters' students. Undergraduate course offerings - which contributed to GCSU being ranked as the No. 6 public university in the South by U.S. News & World Report last year, as well as the No. 4 most innovative among all public and private institutions in the region - are offered only in-person, guaranteeing students hands-on experiential learning opportunities in intimate classroom settings. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, 51% of Georgia College classes have less than 20 students, while 77% have less than 30 students.

U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on metrics such as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion and student services/technology.