The University of West Florida and Pensacola State University were ranked among the best universities in the nation in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Best Online Colleges rankings.
In rankings released this week, UWF and Pensacola State University both ranked 39th out of more than 350 institutions for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
UWF also ranked #25 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. This is the university’s highest ranking to date in this category. This rank evaluates veteran or active duty enrollment and an institution’s GI Bill certification.
The recent rankings mark an improvement from 2024, when UWF’s online bachelor’s program ranked 45th overall for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and 30th for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.
PSC’s online RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program also ranked 2nd out of 28 institutions in the University of Florida System and 7th out of all public and private universities in Florida. The university’s online RN to BSN program moved up two spots from its 2024 ranking.
UWF President Martha Sanders said the ranking is a testament to the university’s commitment to quality online programming for more than 25 years.
“As early adopters of distance learning, we learned a lot about excellence in online course delivery,” she said.
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Overall, U.S. News and World Report recognized UWF as Best Online Program (Bachelor’s Degree) in several categories. MBA; Master’s in Business (non-MBA); Master’s in Nursing; Master’s in Information Technology. MSc Criminal Justice and MSc Education.
In addition to Best Online Degree Programs for Veterans, UWF also ranked among Best Online Programs for Veterans in the following categories: MBA; Master of Business (Non-MBA); Master of Information Technology. and master’s degree education.
As of December, 447 students earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Pensacola State University.
“Since its founding in 2011, PSC’s online RN to BSN program has been designed to accommodate working healthcare professionals, helping them balance their career and personal commitments,” said Ed Meadows, president of the university. “We provide the flexibility needed to take advantage of this.”
PSC Director of Nursing Dr. Corey Lofton credited the program’s success to its rigorous, evidence-based curriculum and faculty.
“This program focuses on hands-on learning opportunities, cutting-edge resources, and strong partnerships with healthcare providers, clinical affiliates, and the community to ensure students are well-prepared for real-world challenges. Lofton added.
This ranking evaluates more than 1,600 distance education bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. This ranking only includes degree programs that are conducted entirely online from enrollment to the end of the academic year. In September 2024, U.S. News and World Report ranked UWF among the top 10 public institutions in the region.
For more information on the U.S. News and World Report 2025 rankings, visit usnews.com/best-colleges.
This article originally appeared in the Pensacola News Journal: U.S. News and World Report gives UWF and PSC top ratings
