The rising popularity of online degree programs has caught the attention of many and because of that the number of distance education providers has increased as well. With so many options ranging from excellent to downright shady a prospective student will need some guidance in making a choice.Below you will find the top ten distance education programs based on reputation, cost, awards, academic quality, instruction technology and student satisfaction.

1. Penn State University World Campus

Penn State University is synonymous with quality. The school year after year has been ranked in the top 15 public schools by magazines and periodicals like SmartMoney and the U.S. News and World Report.

The school offers quality instructors, thousands of satisfied students and an undisputably superb reputation. The offerings of the World Campus are just as good as any of the classes offered by traditional schools.

2. University of Florida Distance Learning

U.S. News & World Report named the University of Florida among the top schools offering online bachelor’s degrees. It was also recognized by SmartMoney and the Princeton Review to name a few. You can enroll at the University of Florida Distance Learning for certificate courses and bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree programs.

3. UMass Online

The University of Massachusetts offers distance education through UMass Online which has won awards for the Most Outstanding Teaching and Learning Program.

The school currently has more than 100 degree and certificate programs in business management, public health, information technology, nursing, education, liberal arts and many more. The cost of the tuition is competitive and students get the convenience of studying online while learning from the world class faculty available at the university.

4. Colorado State University – Global Campus

The Global Campus of the Colorado State University offers the same quality as the campus university. Their offerings include programs in the field of technology, education, management, business in undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as individual courses.

5. Florida State University Online

An affordable distance education provider the Florida State University Online is appropriately called a Budget Ivy university. Recognized for its programs in sciences, engineering, business, law and political science you can earn an undergraduate or graduate degree online in any of these fields.

6. Arizona State University Online

The online school of the State University of Arizona offers a wide array of certificate, undergraduate and graduate programs. They offer the same excellent learning opportunities and programs online as they do on the Arizona campus.

7. Drexel University Online

Drexel has been recognized by several publications for offering the best online graduate programs in the field of engineering, library science and business administration.

With hundreds of satisfied students the school has also received an award from the U.S. Distance Learning Association for 21st Century Best Practices. You can earn an undergraduate or graduate degree at this university.

8. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester University of Technology is recognized as one of the top schools in North America. The school has also been awarded the Center of Excellence Award for its outstanding level of online education. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degrees online.

9. Boston University Online

Boston University Online offers the same great quality as the campus. In 2010 the school received Best Practices award from the Distance Learning Association. The school offers more graduate programs than undergraduate programs but it also offers professional and certificate courses.

To maintain the quality of online learning the university online has selective admissions and a low teach-student ratio.

10. Pace University Online

Pace University Online has been a distance education provider since 2004 and since then has been recognized as one of the top providers of bachelor’s degree programs by U.S. News & World Report.

All of Pace University schools, such as the Lubin School of Business, College of Health Profession, Dyson College and Art and Science and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems offer online graduate and undergraduate degrees.

What distance education programs do you think needed to be included on this list?
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About the Author: Edwin is an avid fan of education and continued learning. He currently writes on behalf of Online Robotics. Edwin has a passion for finding new ways to acquire knowledge.