This week, IU Online earned another endorsement for the breadth and quality of IU’s online programs. Chris Foley. Photo by James Brosher, Indiana University

This time of the year, many watch closely as U.S. News and World Report drops its rankings for online programs. And while we’re not in it for the recognition, I think it merits stepping back to recognize the amazing work that makes IU a leader in online education. This week’s Best Online Degree Program rankings placed IU Online programs near the top overall and at the top in numerous specialties.

Among all online bachelor’s degree providers, IU Online ranked 29th, remaining among the top 30 in the country. That’s a testament to the breadth of expertise in the online experience across disciplines. In fact, we’re ranked in virtually every discipline where we offer a degree. That includes No. 1 rankings in four Kelley School of Business-developed programs (the Kelley Direct MBA, Business Master’s, and MBA general management and finance specialties), as well as top 10 rankings for the MBA business analytics and marketing specialties.

The IU Bloomington School of Education’s Instructional Systems Technology department took the top spot for the educational/instructional media design master’s program. You could argue that all of our educational programs owe their existence to that department, since many of IU’s instructional designers are alums of this outstanding program. Instructional Systems Technology at IU is a groundbreaking program that helped jump-start online education and has been a driver of its development from the start.

These latest rankings also demonstrate the expertise and faculty excellence brought to bear from across IU. This year’s rankings feature IU East’s bachelor’s degree in psychology as the No. 8 program in that category. Our faculty at IU East started the program about a decade ago and have built it into one of the best anywhere.

And the No. 17 ranking for the Chancellors’ B.S. in Business Administration recognizes the quality of a collaborative degree that spans multiple campuses. Originally launched through IU East, the Chancellors’ BSBA is now a collaboration among business faculty on all regional campuses and, in a short time, has become one of the best according to the U.S. News rankings. The quality of our faculty, their preparation to teach online and their engagement with students are among the factors that go into the rankings.

The rankings are also testament to meeting students where they are and getting them to the places where they are needed. The IUPUI School of Nursing keeps climbing the online rankings, jumping 23 spots in the online master’s programs to No. 26. It’s ranked ninth in nursing education and 17th in nursing administration.

As we’ve all seen in the past two years, nursing is a crucial professional area, and there is a need for many more nurses to fill a national shortage. In addition to serving nurses, we’re among the most accessible, affordable and highly regarded programs for veterans. Our efforts to serve these students earned us a tie for No. 40 as a best online bachelor’s program for veterans.

One can argue the merits of the rankings and their meaning, but we should take great pride in this year’s broad recognition of the vast array of IU Online offerings. As we continue to grow — now with more than 200 online degree and certificate programs — we expect this quality in online education to provide even more opportunities for students.

Chris Foley is associate vice president in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and director of the Office of Online Education.