MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech’s online bachelor’s degree program in psychology surged into the top 15 in the nation in U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 online rankings out this week, and the university’s online undergraduate program in business broke into the top 100 with its rising placement.
In its 14th year, the magazine’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs evaluated 359 online bachelor’s degree programs for 2026 using metrics specific to online learning. The rankings include only degree-granting programs offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions.
Florida Tech’s online psychology program jumped 17 spots since last year and is now tied for No. 12 in the country. Joining it on an upward trajectory is online business, which rose six spots from 2025 to No. 98.
Florida Tech’s overall ranking for online bachelor’s programs came in at No. 160 out of 348 schools ranked (11 programs ended up unranked), a slight decline from 2025.
The magazine also ranked some graduate online programs, including Florida Tech’s online master’s degree in information technology, which landed at No. 38, down two spots from 2025.
The online programs were evaluated using four categories, with each weighted to represent a portion of the overall score. The categories are: Engagement (35%), which centers on opportunities for student interaction with instructors and classmates, as well as how accessible and responsive faculty are; Services and Technologies (25%); Faculty Credentials and Training (20%); and Peer Assessment (20%), which is based on results from a survey of high-ranking academic officials.
“What sets the top-ranked online programs apart is their commitment to delivering flexible coursework for professionals, parents and service members seeking to advance their careers and broaden their knowledge,” LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for education at U.S. News, said in a statement. “Our rigorous evaluation focuses on student engagement and support to highlight programs truly built for the modern learner.”
