an increased demand for professionals with a true understanding of what young children really need in order to give them the best foundation for the future. An online degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) can help you to develop the skills that will allow you to fulfill one of the most satisfying and influential roles in a child’s life.

There are a great number of choices when it comes to studying for an online degree in Early Childhood Education and many factors you will need to consider when making your choice. Some people may be looking for the cheapest options, while the priority of others may be the opportunity to specialize in a certain area of childhood education. The criteria used in order to determine the following rankings of the 20 best providers of this particular online degree can be divided into three main categories: academic excellence, return on investment, and incidental benefit.

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1. Granite State College (Littleton, NH)

Granite State College, founded in 1972, is one of four that make up the University System of New Hampshire and the institution was founded. The school offers online degree programs with the intention of making higher education accessible for everyone across the state of New Hampshire, with particular emphasis on providing education to adults of all ages. It is currently rated 27th on the U.S. News & World Report‘s category for Best Online Bachelor’s Degree programs.

The ECE program offered by Granite State College is a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S) in Early Childhood Education with Teacher Certification. Completing this program will qualify students to obtain teaching certificates in either or both of the areas of Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. Students will develop a great range of skills while studying on this program, including how to understand research conducted on the brain and the way this can be applied to learning and teaching methods; ways to effectively utilize technology within teaching methods; and how to design programs and monitor and assess student progress.

This institution offers a curriculum based on standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

2. University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)

The University of Cincinnati, known as UC for short, is a public research university. It was founded in 1819 and is currently one of the largest universities in the U.S., with over 40,000 students enrolling on a yearly basis. In 2010, UC was ranked in the Top 100 Universities in North America and the Top 200 in the world by Times Higher Education.

The University of Cincinnati offers programs in both Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Care and Education. The former is directed more towards those who are already in positions within preschools or other child-related settings, who hope to develop the understanding and skills to enable them to properly nurture early language, reading, and writing development.

The bachelor’s degree can be studied entirely online with a combination of field visits for practical experience, and on completing the course students will be prepared to apply their understanding of early childhood theory to an education setting of children from birth to five years old.

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Ohio Department of Education.

3. UMass Online (Amherst, MA)

UMass Online is the online department of the University of Massachusetts (Umass) system, whose flagship campus is located in Amherst, in the western part of the state.

Umass is a public research and land grant University. It is the largest such higher education institution in New England. The university was founded in 1863, and has been a leader in distance education for over 25 years.

Faculty members are constant top performers, contributing to valuable research and winning awards and recognition. UMass was identified as one of the Top Colleges and Universities Contributing to Teach for America’s 2010 Teaching Corps.

Umass Online’s offers a B.A. in Early Care and Education Concentrations. They advertise this course as being suitable for both individuals with some experience in the field of early childhood education and those who are completely new to it. The degree is flexible, taking into account their students additional commitments. It can be completed 100% online and will provide you with the skills to progress in your career in a child-care center or preschool.

The University of Massachusetts has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and has won a number of awards for its online learning courses. These include an Excellence in Teaching award in 2008 and being ranked among the Top 10 Online Degrees Colleges in 2009.

4. Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)

Western Governors University, known as WGU for short,  is a private, non-profit University located in Salt Lake City, Utah, which was founded in 1997. It is a competency-based university that was funded by 19 states and utilizes online learning.

Students have their own mentors with whom they work online and testing is performed at various local testing centers. WGU was ranked number one in GuidetoOnlineSchools.com’s Top Online Colleges in 2013, improving on its 2nd place ranking from the year before.

A B.A. in Early Childhood Education is one of the programs of study offered by Western Governors University, the content of which is based on research in this field as well as national and state standards. The skills gained from this course will allow students to become effective teachers in preschool through grade 3 and other childcare environments. Areas of study will include developmental, cultural, social, and academic skills that are required by a teacher in order to competently take care and educate young children.

WGU has a number of accreditations, including from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and the National Council for Accreditation of teacher Education (NCATE).

5. Post University (Waterbury, CT)

Post University, located in Waterbury, Connecticut, was established in 1890, and was  known as Post College until 1990. It is a fairly small university which focuses on providing day, evening, and online courses in a variety of subjects. Between 1990–2004, the university was affiliated with Teikyo University in Japan, so for just over a decade it was known as Teikyo Post University.

Post University is currently ranked 19th on U.S. News & World Report‘s list for best online bachelors degree programs.

Post University has an excellent archive of tools and resources that enable it to provide quality higher education online. The class sizes are small, with no more than 12 students in each, and are taught by professionals who are both highly educated and highly experienced in their field.

The Early Childhood Education degree provided here focuses on innovation, creativity and leadership, and gaining the skills to understand research and apply findings in order to constantly develop and improve your effectiveness as an educator and caregiver.

This degree will qualify you for a career as a preschool teacher, teacher assistant, childcare worker, or nanny, among various others, and over 75% of individuals who have graduated with this degree are employed in a position relating to the field.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accredit Post University through the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

6. Pacific Oaks College (Pasadena, CA)

Established in 1945, Pacific Oaks College—which is located in Pasadena, California—offers both campus-based and online higher education. Students can study either full-time or part-time and a range of subjects are offered.

Pacific Oaks is known for its anti-bias curriculum and works to challenge and change social injustices and to educate on issues concerning social changes and human and child development.

Students of the Pacific Oaks B.A. in Early Childhood Education will gain the necessary skills and teaching methodology that will enable them to create an optimal learning environment in which to implement effective teaching techniques. Cognitive development has a large focus in this course, as well as the nurturing of young children’s language, motor skills, psychosocial learning, and problem solving abilities.

Students in this degree program will have the option to complete specialized coursework and practical experience in order to qualify for the California Preliminary Multiple Subject (MSEL) Teaching Credential.

Since 1959, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits Pacific Oaks College.

7. Concordia University (Saint Paul, MN)

Concordia University, founded in 1893, is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota (and should not be confused with several other colleges and universities with the same or similar names). The university offers a range of programs, including undergraduate majors and minors and licensure and colloquy programs. In 2013, Concordia University was recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the category of Best Online Bachelors Degrees.

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education will set students up with the skills to work with young children from birth to five years old. Foundation courses in Early Childhood Education are a requirement for admission to this course. Students will focus on the all-round development of a child, including the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive factors. Upon graduation, students will have gained the skills and knowledge to create an environment in which children can thrive and natural curiosity is embraced.

The program was designed in accordance with the standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

8. Aspen University (Denver, CO)

Aspen University was established in 1987 and is a distant learning higher education institution. Among a variety of other subjects, Aspen offers degrees in computer science, criminal justice, nursing, addictions counselling, and education, at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

The B.S. in Early Childhood Education is intended either to begin a career in the field of early childhood care and education or to advance an existing one. Topics covered in the course include child development, education psychology, and curriculum design. Students can choose between specializing in either preschool or infancy in order to target their professional aspirations.

Although this program does not include teacher licensing or certification, it does provide the option of gaining a Child Development Associate credential.

The Accrediting Commission of the Distant Education and Training Council (DETC) accredits Aspen University. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) has authorised Aspen University to operate as a private university.

9. Ashworth College (Norcross, GA)

Ashworth College, located in Georgia, was established in 1987. It is a for-profit, distance education institution, which offers both higher education and secondary education. Since 1987 it has enrolled over 2 million students in its programs from all over world.

Master’s degrees were introduced in 2004 and bachelor’s degrees in 2007. Programs can be started at any time according to the convenience of the student.

Acceptance into the bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education provided by Ashworth College requires a high school diploma or GED. The program is designed to equip students to make a genuine difference in their career in preschool, day-care, and special education settings. Topics cover public speaking, child development, health, safety, and nutrition, and home, school, community, and child psychology.

The Distance Education and Training Council accredits Ashworth College.

10. Brandman University (Irvine, CA)

Brandman University has campuses located throughout California and is a non-profit higher education institute. The university offers a range of degrees, certificates, and programs in subjects including business, arts and sciences, health, and education.

Brandman focuses on providing higher education to working adults of all ages, and as a military-friendly school it offers discounts to active military as well as their spouse and dependents.

Brandman University is currently ranked eight on U.S. News & World Report‘s list for best online bachelor’s degree programs.

Brandman University offers a B.A. in Childhood Education with a curriculum based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) professional preparation standards for Initial Licensure.

Students will learn the skills to work with children from birth to eight years of age, and to effectively educate and nurture them. Topics covered on this course will include child development, relationships, learning environments, observation, assessment, and meaningful content with regards to curriculum design.

Brandman University is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).

11. Columbus State University (Columbus, GA)

Columbus State University was established in 1958 and was voted in the Top 100 of all regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report in 2013. U.S. News also rated the university in the category of Best Online Programs. The institution attracts students from around the world to study for one of their 46 undergraduate degree programs.

The B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education offered by Columbus State University places emphasis on the use of contemporary research and theory to provide new teachers with the skills and knowledge to provide young children with the nurturing and education that they need in order to thrive. Graduates will be able to teach from preschool level to grade five and this course leads to an entry-level Georgia certification.

In 1997, the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators (GATE) selected this institution and this specific course as the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education. The University has accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

12. Ashford University (Clinton, IA)

Ashford University was established in 1918 and currently offers over 50 degree programs either on campus or online. The majority of Ashford University’s students opt to study online due to their impressive online resources and community.

The online bachelor of arts degree in Early Childhood Education is described as having the ability to launch your career in the field of ECE as an expert. The program covers various theories of child development and teaches students how to design relevant programs and follow curricula. The skills and knowledge gained will give you the confidence and methodology to care for and educate young children in a variety of settings.

Although the course does not lead to teacher licensure or certification, it does provide the opportunity to specialize in infant and toddler care.

Ashford University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

13. Kendall College (Chicago, IL)

Kendall College was established in 1934 and is a for-profit college located in Chicago. It specializes in programs in hospitality management, culinary arts, business, and early childhood education. It is a campus and online-based higher education institution.

Kendall College offers a B.A. in Early Childhood Education with Illinois Teacher Licensure (Preparation). The focus of this course is on care and education of children from birth to Grade 3, with the option to prepare for teacher licensure in the state of Illinois. Students will have an option regarding the areas of study in which they would like to concentrate or specialize, including Childhood Nutrition, English as a Second Language (ESL), special education, or Infants and Toddlers.

Kendall College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

14. Park University (Parkville, MO)

Park University, with headquarters in Parkville, Missouri, has over 40 campuses in 21 states, not to mention its online presence. It is a non-profit, private higher education institution providing degree programs at a range of levels and covering a variety of subjects. It is currently one of the top providers of education for the U.S. military.

The B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education as offered by Park University requires a minimum of 120 hours with a certain number of  flexible hours for students to choose the area of study in which they would like to concentrate.

The curriculum is very comprehensive and covers a great range of topics that fall under ECE. A few examples of modules include Technology in Education, Art, Music, and Movement, Education of Exceptional Children, and Personal and Community Health.

Park University personalizes its online courses so that they best match the needs of the student and are also easily accessible and attainable.

15. Kaplan University (Davenport, IA)

Kaplan University is a for-profit institute of higher education with a number of campuses located in Iowa, Nebraska, and Maryland. However, it is currently predominantly an online-learning institution. Between those enrolled online and on-campus students, students exceed 66,000. Discounted rates are provided to members of the military.

Among the many bachelor of science degrees offered by Kaplan University is the one in Early Childhood Education. The university has recognized the growing need for the use of knowledgeable and skilled professionals to properly care for and nurture the development of young children. Among various other topics, this program will focus on child growth and development, ethics, health and nutrition, and lesson planning.

It is a non-licensure program that will provide students with a strong foundation upon which to base their career.

16. Vanguard University of Southern California (Costa Mesa, CA)

Established in 1920, Vanguard University of Southern California is a private institute of higher education. It was once known as Southern California Bible College and currently offers courses at both graduate and undergraduate level in various subjects. Vanguard was named among the Christian Colleges of Distinction in 1012–2013, and also made the list of Forbes magazine’s America’s Best Colleges, in 2013.

Vanguard University offers both associate’s and bachelor’s online degree programs in Early Childhood Education. The university recognizes the rising standards expected in teachers of children of increasingly younger ages and has designed its courses to meet these high standards and requirements.

Online study at this institution is accessible anywhere and at anytime. Teachers are experienced both in the field of ECE and teaching degree courses online.

17. City University of Seattle (Seattle, WA)

City University of Seattle is the largest independent university in the Pacific Northwest, and offers both graduate and under graduate programs. It is a Jesuit Catholic University that was established in 1891.

The university offers 61 bachelor’s degree programs, 31 graduate degree programs, and 27 certificate programs. It also has a doctoral program in education.

City University of Seattle is currently ranked in the top 50 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list for best online bachelor’s degree programs.

In the online bachelor of arts degree program in Early Childhood Education, students will be able to combine theory learning with practical experience in the field. They will learn how to develop and apply a research-based curriculum and various strategies and teaching methodologies, as well as how to plan and run lessons that nurture cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development in young children.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional accrediting body approved by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits City University of Seattle.

18. Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI)

Ferris State University—also sometimes known as Ferris State or FSU for short—was founded in 1884. Located in central Michigan, the university was originally an industrial school noteworthy for accepting female students.

Today, FSU has over 14,000 students either studying on various campuses or online. The school offers two- and four-year degree programs, with an emphasis on preparing students for successful careers. It has an excellent rate of employment among graduates and all classes, both on campus and online, are taught by professionals.

Ferris State offers a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education aimed at individuals who love to be around children and are prepared to work hard in order to give them the best possible start in life. This program covers, among other topics, early childhood development, nutrition, first aid, and children’s literature and child psychology. It also provides students with a foundation education in other subjects they would be expected to teach, including English, math, science, and social studies.

Ferris State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

19. Southwestern College (Winfield, KS)

Southwestern University, known as SU, was established in 1885 and is located in Winfield, Kansas. It offers a range of programs either on campus or online. It is a four-year private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Southwestern College is currently ranked 30th on U.S. News & World Report‘s list for best online bachelor’s degree programs.

The online Early Childhood \degree program offered by SU can be completed entirely online for the convenience of students, allowing them to study anywhere and anytime. Although this is a non-licensure program, it will prepare students for the ECE exam and qualify them to apply for licensure to teach children from birth to age 8. A comprehensive range of topics is covered in this program, including teaching young children with disabilities, infant development, assessment strategies, and home, school, and community issues.

Southwestern College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association and is further accredited by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.

20. Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ)

Grand Canyon University, established in 1949, is a private, for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. They started offering online degree programs, including those in Early Childhood Education, in 2003–2004. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it in the top 100 of all U.S. online higher education providers.

Grand Canyon University records and archives each and every one of its classes, which may then be viewed by the institute’s distance or online students. All study material is therefore accessible day and night, providing flexibility for students to work at their convenience.

The faculty encourage interaction and discussions between classmates, as well as one-on-one instruction. The B.S. in Early Childhood Education focuses on areas including instructional strategies, teaching methodologies, assessment techniques, theories of early childhood growth and development, and impact of family and cultural diversity. Skills gained will allow students to successfully motivate and educate children from birth through third grade,

The Higher Learning Commission continually accredits Grand Canyon University.

theoretical areas of law enforcement. Students in effective Master’s of Criminal Justice degree programs gain the skills they need to obtain leadership positions in administration of criminal justice agencies.

A Criminal Justice Master degree gives people the advantage they need to obtain a variety of jobs within the criminal justice system. Depending on the college or university, students may obtain a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ), or a Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) degree.

Graduate criminal justice degree programs go above and beyond the scope of undergraduate learning. These programs combine the fundamental tenets of law and psychology to prepare students to manage criminals, to become the front line of criminal investigations, and to understand the inner workings of the justice system.

Professionals with a Criminal Justice Master degree have the choice of entering different kinds of law enforcement, criminal investigation, and crime prevention occupations, such as:

• Probation and Correctional Officers
• U.S. Marshals
• Correctional Treatment Specialists and Rehabilitation Counselors
• Emergency Management Directors
• First-line Supervisors of Police Officers and Detectives

The online Master of Criminal Justice programs vary across the schools providing the programs; however, most MCJ programs offer a core course of study, specializations, and electives. The core programs include topics such as criminal justice theory and policy, law enforcement, statistics, research, and criminology. Typically, most Master’s in Criminal Justice degree programs offer areas of concentration such as terrorism, homeland security, forensics, or emergency management.

Online Master of Criminal Justice Degree Program Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online Master of Criminal Justice programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

1. University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)

The University of Cincinnati (UC), founded in 1819, prides itself on a rich history and as a leader in higher education with major contributions in the areas of science, education, and more.

The University of Cincinnati provides an online Master in Criminal Justice (MCJ) program. All MCJ students are required to take eleven courses: five core courses and six electives. The program can be completed in 33 semester hours or one year of full-time study.

Students in the online Master of Criminal Justice program may choose to pursue a general track without a concentration or select from three concentration options, including Analysis of Criminal Behavior, Law Enforcement & Crime Prevention, and Corrections and Offender Rehabilitation. Some of the program electives include seminars in social control, sex offenders, and juvenile justice.

The Master in Criminal Justice program includes core courses such as:

• Seminar in Criminal Justice
• Seminar in Criminology
• Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice
• Basic Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Demonstration Research Project

UC is categorized at the top level of higher education as a Doctoral/Research University by the Carnegie Commission, which honors achievements of faculty and program accreditations. The University of Cincinnati was ranked the #1 faculty nationally in the Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice (2010). The University of Cincinnati School of Criminal Justice was ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report (2010).

The University of Cincinnati has received regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

2. Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)

Florida State University (FSU) had its beginning as early as1823 and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the State University System of Florida. FSU offers roughly 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a numerous fields, including business, medicine, and law.

Florida State University, a premier graduate research university, attracts roughly $200 million a year in research dollars.

Florida State University College of Criminology & Criminal Justice provides an online Master of Criminal Justice Studies program. FSU’s College of Criminology & Criminal Justice is widely known for its excellence in cutting-edge research, rigorous coursework, and vibrant intellectual community. The FSU criminology program enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and has been ranked # 1 in the nation for faculty research.

The online Master of Criminal Justice program requires a total of 36 hours of graduate credit. This includes 15 hours of core courses and 21 elective credits.

The core courses include:

• Survey Criminological Theories
• Survey of Criminal Justice Theory & Research
• Computer Applications in Criminal Justice
• Research Methods in Criminology
• Applied Statistics in Criminology

The Journal of Criminal Justice Education ranked Florida State’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice #1 in the nation. U.S. News & World Report named FSU’s College of Criminology & Criminal Justice graduate program #7 in the nation (2009). The same magazine also named Florida State University the most efficient university in the country (2012). Princeton Review and USA Today have both ranked Florida State #4 in “Best Value” public university in the nation (2012). Florida State University was also included in Princeton Review’s 377 Best Colleges (2013).

3. Michigan State University (East Lansing. MI)

Michigan State University (MSU), established in 1855 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, is known as one of the most prestigious research universities in the world with 200 programs offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. MSU prides itself as being one of the greenest campuses in the country and is home to a diverse community of students, scholars, and leaders.

The MSU School of Criminal Justice is considered one of the oldest and most distinguished research programs in the nation offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. In 1998, the School of Criminal Justice began offering its online Masters of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program. Students must complete 30 credits of coursework to obtain a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice.

The Master in Criminal Justice degree program includes core courses such as:

• Crime Causation, Prevention, and Control
• Pro-seminar in Criminal Justice
• Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research
• Criminal Justice Management Seminar
• Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice Research
• Policy Analysis Under Conditions of Change

Students also take approved electives such as terrorism, counterterrorism, policing, and anti-counterfeit strategy.

To complete the program, students can choose to take just the general requirements for the Masters in Criminal Justice, focus in security management, or to continue with an international program.

U.S. News & World Report ranks MSU #7 for top graduate schools in criminology (2009) and #28 in America’s Best Colleges among the nation’s public universities (2013). MSU is also ranked in the top 100 on the Top Universities by Reputation list published by Times Higher Education (2013), and is recognized in Princeton Review‘s Guide to 322 Green Colleges (2013). The Chronicle of Higher Education ranks MSU 14th nationally for research and 7th among public institutions.

4. Arizona State University (Glendale, AZ)

Arizona State University (ASU) was originally founded in Tempe, Arizona, as the “Territorial Normal School” in 1885. Since then, ASU (accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) is now located in the vibrant area of Glendale and has become one of the nation’s largest public universities by enrollment, offering more than 250 undergraduate degree programs and 100 graduate degree programs.

ASU offers undergraduate programs in the fields of health science, technological management, criminal justice, and family and human development, to name just a few.

ASU offers the online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program (MACJ). The MACJ program, as part of The College of Public Programs, is a comprehensive program designed to offer criminal justice professionals training and coursework in criminology, criminal justice system operations, research methods and statistics, program management, policy analysis, and evaluation.

Students need to complete a 33-credit hour program, including a capstone course in which they compose a research paper focusing on a criminal justice practice or policy.

ASU’s graduate schools in criminology has been ranked #12 by U.S. News & World Report (2009). ASU was also listed in U.S. News & World Report as a top-tier U.S. University, and has been named one of “America’s Best College Buys” by Forbes magazine.

5. Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

Founded in 1890, Washington State University (WSU) is the state’s largest land-grant university providing excellence in education to more than 26,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

Additionally, WSU is recognized for high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The WSU criminal justice program is the second-oldest academic program in the nation and established the founding chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma criminal justice honor society. Washington State University’s online Master in Criminal Justice program (MACJ) provides the necessary training and applied research education for those working in criminal justice, students planning to enter the field, and those with a general interest about criminal justice policy.

WSU’s online criminal justice master’s degree program requires 27 credits broken down into core, institutional, and elective courses, as well as four credits aimed at specifically developing and defending a writing portfolio. The core courses in the online Master degree in criminal justice include:

• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Introductory Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice: Processes and Institutions
• Seminar in Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation
• Seminar in Criminological Theory

U.S News & Word Report ranked Washington State University #19 among the best graduate programs in Criminal Justice (2009). The magazine also ranks Washington State University among the nation’s “Best Colleges” (2013). In addition, WSU was ranked #57 among public universities and #6 in Top Online Bachelor’s Programs: Student Services and Technology, by U.S. News & World Report (2011).

6. Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX)

Sam Houston State University (SHSU), founded in 1879, is the third-oldest public institution of higher learning in Texas. Sam Houston University is a member of the Texas State University System.

The school provides more than 80 bachelor’s degree programs, over 50 master’s degree programs, and 6 doctoral programs.

The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education classifies Sam Houston State University as a “Doctoral Research University.” The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education also classifies SHSU as a “Community Engaged” university.

The Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice is one of the nation’s largest and oldest criminal justice programs. The College of Criminal Justice includes the headquarters of the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

The College of Criminal Justice online Master in Criminal Justice degree program is designed for individuals with and without work experience in the criminal justice field. Students can complete the degree in two years.

Students are prepared for careers in various areas of criminal justice, including administration, field positions, social policy, and organizational management. The Master of Criminal Justice degree is a 36-hour degree.

The online Master’s in Criminal Justice degree program provides classes such as:

• Research Methods and Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice
• Computer Technology Applications in Criminal Justice
• Community Theory and the Administration of Justice
• Perspectives in Criminology
• Courts as Organizations
• Law and Forensic Sciences
• Legal Research

Sam Houston State University was ranked the #22 top graduate schools for Criminology in 2009 by U.S. News & World Report.

7. UMass Online (Lowell, MA)

In 1863, the University of Massachusetts, or UMass, was first established as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Years later in 1947, it finally became the University of Massachusetts. During this growth, and up to the present, UMass has historically been recognized as an affordable, high-quality research institution for more than 140 years.

UMass educates more than 68,000 students a year and delivers an impressive 14,000 degrees at its five campuses located in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester. All campuses are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

UMass Online is one of the oldest and largest online departments of any top-tier, traditional campus-based university in the country.

UMass Online’s Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice offers students the necessary professional skills and rigorous training to work in local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies. This program serves to help students manage current employment, acquire leadership positions, and/or continue advanced training in criminal justice.

Students must complete 33 credit hours and 11 courses to attain the online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree (MACJ). The core courses consist of:

• Criminal Justice Scholarship
• Managing Criminal Justice Organizations
• Law and Public Policy
• Criminal Justice Administration
• Criminological Theory
• Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice

Beyond the core courses, online MACJ students must take electives which include courses such as emergency management, criminal profiling, and forensic psychology.

UMass was ranked #42 by U.S. News & World Report in its list of “Top Public Schools” (2012), and the Times Higher Education Supplement of London ranked the school as the 45th best university in the world and 22nd best in North America.

8. Boston University (Boston, MA)

Boston University (BU), founded in 1839 and one of the largest independent non-profit universities in the United State, boasts over 250 fields of study with 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 140 countries. Many students refer to BU as “a city within a city” with world-class facilities and a diverse student population.

The online Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) program at the Boston University Metropolitan College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The program is designed for students seeking to advance in the field of criminal justice and learn leadership skills in the criminal justice community.

The BU Online Master of Criminal Justice degree consists of ten courses including Criminology, Victimology, Youth Crime Problems, White Collar Crime, Terrorism, Crime and Punishment, Analytical Methods, Research Methods, and Forensic Behavior Analysis. Candidates are allowed to select one course from two electives including a special elective and criminal justice administration.

Boston University received the 2010 Sloan-C Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education and a Silver Best Practices Award for Distance Learning programming from the United States Distance Learning Association (2010). Boston University ranked #51 in the U.S. News & World Report 2013 edition of Best Colleges and #71 in the “Academic Ranking of World Universities,” a publication established by Shanghai Jia Tong University.

9. Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA)

Founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus, St. Joseph’s University (SJU) is among the only 153 schools in the nation with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation. SJU currently has 4,600 traditional undergraduate students and 3,550 graduate and doctoral students.

With a 450-year Jesuit tradition of service, SJU is recognized as a demanding, supportive, premier Catholic university in the Northeast.

The university has received accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program from Saint Joseph’s University is designed for students to fully understand the latest research trends and administrative strategies in the criminal justice system and put them into practice. To finish the Criminal Justice Master’s degree program, students must complete 30 credit hours with the option of specialization in areas such as Homeland Security, Behavior Analysis, and Federal Law Enforcement.

The four mandatory MSCJ core courses include:

• Research Methods
• Criminological Theory
• Ethics and Criminal Justice
• Professional Writing for Law Enforcement

Students may also take electives as part of the curriculum in areas such as juvenile delinquency and diversity in criminal justice.

Saint Joseph’s was ranked #8 in the Master’s Universities (North) category (2012) by U.S. News & World Report. Forbes ranked Saint Joseph’s as the 180th best college in the country in 2012. Princeton Review also ranked SJU’s Haub School of Business as one of the Best 290 Business Schools (2010).

10. University of Colorado Denver (Denver, CO)

University of Colorado Denver (UCD), a public research university, is part of the University of Colorado system. UCD is the largest research institution in the state and a thriving urban education center offering more than 130 degree programs.

Founded in 1972, the UCD Master degree in Criminal Justice is a challenging academic program that provides students with an interdisciplinary education on criminology and the criminal justice system. The online Master in Criminal Justice degree program centers on topics such as law enforcement and the formulation of laws and codes.

The program specializes in preparing students not only to work in the criminal justice system, but also to evaluate and rework it so the criminal justice system fits the needs of the community. The online master degree in criminal justice degree program includes 36 total credit hours. Students must complete a Capstone course or a thesis/exam to finish the program.

The core courses of the online Master degree in Criminal Justice include:

• Criminal Justice Systems, Policies & Practices
• Criminological Theory
• Research Methods
• Statistics
• Law & Society

The University of Colorado Denver was ranked #34 on Forbes Magazine‘s public colleges list and Princeton Review included UCD in its Best in the West edition in 2008. University of Colorado Denver was also ranked the #108 in the Top Public Schools list by U.S. News & World Report.

11. Loyola University New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

Originally established in 1904 and chartered in 1912, Loyola University New Orleans (Loyola) is a private, Jesuit university located in the eclectic and vibrant city of New Orleans.

Loyola enrolls 5000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the southern region of the United States. The university is accredited by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Loyola University New Orleans takes great pride in being ranked Top 10 Southern regional schools by U.S. News & World Report for the last 22 years and ranked top 27 nationally in service learning initiatives in America’s Best Colleges (2013).

Loyola University New Orleans’s online master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration program provides students with the necessary knowledge and leadership skills needed to succeed in the demanding criminal justice administration system. Students gain comprehensive understanding in areas such as organizational administration, theories of crime prevention, and budget planning. The online master’s in Criminal Justice degree includes a 36-credit curriculum.

All students must take the following six core courses:

• Crime and Organizational Theory into Practice
• Crisis Management and Media Relations
• Budget Analysis
• Assessing Organizational Performance
• Applied Data Analysis and Decision-Making
• Ethics and the Administration of Justice

The remaining courses are divided into electives and specialization options such as Cyber Forensics, Justice Administration, and Forensic Science Administration.

Loyola was ranked #9 Best Regional University in the South in America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The university was also ranked #9 in Great Schools, Great Prices category (2013). The university was named a 2011–2012 Best Value Private College by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and named a Best Buy in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012.

12. University of Louisville (Louisville, KY)

Founded in 1798, the University of Louisville (U of L), a premiere metropolitan university, is a state- supported research institution with three campuses in the Louisville area. The University of Louisville has more than 22,000 students.

The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Department of Justice Administration at the U of L offers an online Master of Science in the Administration of Justice (MS/ADJ) degree. The online program provides students with a comprehensive education of the criminal justice system to prepare them to continue advanced studies or enter criminal justice positions. To attain the MS/ADJ degree, students must complete 36 graduate credit hours and a professional paper.

The Master of Criminal Justice program core courses include courses such as:

• The Criminal Justice System
• Theories of Crime and Delinquency
• Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice Management
• Applied Statistics in Criminal Justice
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice

The University of Louisville has been ranked #160 in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.

13. Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR)

Established in 1856, Western Oregon University (WOU) is Oregon’s oldest public university, is home to the renowned Teaching Research Institute, and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WOU’s student body is comprised of about 6,200 undergraduate and 400 graduate students.

The university, a public liberal arts institution, is dedicated to improving communities.

The WOU online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ) program is organized specifically for candidates currently working in the criminal justice system; however, qualified non-practitioners may apply to the program. The goal of the online Master’s in Criminal Justice degree program is to provide students with the skills necessary for managerial and other professional occupations in criminal justice.

In order to complete the program, students need 45 credit hours ending with a thesis or a special individual studies course and comprehensive exam. Some of the electives cover topics such as theory of criminal law and offender treatment.

The Master of Criminal Justice degree provides core courses such as:

• Research in Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Administration/Organizational Behavior
• Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice
• Theory and Research in Crime and Delinquency

U.S. News & World Report ranks Western Oregon University # 81 in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities (West) and #34 in Top Public Schools.

14. Tiffin University (Tiffin, OH)

Tiffin University, an independent, coeducational university, has about 6,800 students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Tiffin University’s programs are authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents and are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Master of Criminal Justice online degree program consists of core courses and special concentrations in areas such as Homeland Security, Criminal Behavior, Crime Analysis, and Justice Administration. The degree can be completed in 30 semester hours and some concentrations do not require a thesis or exam but may require a Professional Practice Portfolio.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Tiffin University #102 in Best Online Bachelor’s programs and #98 in Best Online Graduate Business programs (2013).

15. Liberty University Online (Lynchburg, VA)

Liberty University, an affordable private university founded in 1971 and located in Virginia, is one of the world’s largest online educators with 25 years of experience in distance learning. When including its online programs, Liberty University Online, the university is the largest Evangelical Christian university in the world, offering 315 programs (both seated and online).

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to grant undergraduate and graduate level degrees.

The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice – Public Administration (part of the Helms School of Government) prepares candidates for a professional career in the criminal justice public administration system. The goal of the program is to combine these online graduate courses with the ethics, Christian values, and strong leadership skills taught at Liberty University to prepare students to face the challenges of the criminal justice system and its policies.

Graduation requirements include 36 total credit hours. Students must complete the program in five years. Some of the Public Administration cognate courses include Public Policy Analysis and Communication and Conflict.

The Master of criminal Justine online degree program provides core courses such as:

• Criminal Justice Integration
• Criminal Justice Program Evaluation
• Leadership, Ethics, and Policing
• Administration of Justice Organizations
• Human Resources Management in Criminal Justice Organizations
• Topics and Trends in Criminal Justice

In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked Liberty University 64th Best Colleges of Regional Universities in the South and in 2012 Forbes‘s list of America’s Top Colleges ranked Liberty University 584 overall.

16. Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ)

Grand Canyon University (GCU), founded in 1949 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a private, Christian University providing both campus-based and online programs through its seven colleges. GCU is known for its Christian values and worldview, for its Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, and for being recognized as a top 5 online schools for entrepreneurs by Fortune Magazine.

The online Master of Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in Law Enforcement program at GCU is designed for those who work in law enforcement and seek advancement into criminal justice management positions. The Criminal Justice Master’s degree program with an Emphasis in Law Enforcement features online courses in criminal investigation procedures, criminal justice methodology, law and public policy, ethics, collection and preservation of evidence, and the latest in research.

To graduate from the program students must take a total of 40 credits and complete a Capstone course, including a professional portfolio and a final written proposal.

The Master of Criminal Justice program provides courses such as:

• Forensic Psychology
• Restorative Justice
• Ethics for Policing and Corrections
• Terrorism and Homeland Security
• Criminal Investigations

17. Colorado Technical University (Colorado Springs, CO)

Colorado Technical University (CTU), a for-profit university, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Colorado Technical University specializes in undergraduate and graduate programs in technology, management, and business, mostly online.

Colorado Technical University’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree program is designed for professionals looking to further their education and opportunities in law enforcement and the criminal justice systems and industry. Course content includes areas in homeland security, leadership, and law-enforcement management.

The online Master degree in Criminal Justice provides courses such as:

• Criminology and Public Policy
• Court Services Management
• Operational Human Resource Management
• Issues of Diversity in Criminal Justice
• Corrections Management

The CTU online master’s program in criminal justice provides students a foundation of knowledge in the research and trends of criminal justice, law, and policy analysis, as well as problem-solving leadership skills.

18. Kaplan University (Davenport, IA)

Kaplan University, a for-profit, regionally accredited university, is owned by Kaplan, Inc. Kaplan University is mostly an online university offering both undergraduate and graduate programs for more than 60,000 online and on-campus students.

The Kaplan online Master in Criminal Justice program is designed to give students the tools required for advancement in their respective criminal justice field. Upon graduation, students will be able to identify causes of criminal behavior, focus on management and leadership in criminal justice institutions, and use advanced research methods to conduct research and evaluate data.

The online Master’s in Criminal Justice degree program consists of core courses with exam, specializations, and electives totaling 55 credits. Some of the specializations include Law, Global Issues, and Critical issues in Corrections.

The online Master of Criminal Justice degree program provides core courses such as:

• Critical Legal Issues In Criminal Justice
• Criminological Theory
• Organizational Behavior
• Critical Issues In Criminal Justice
• Academic Communications In Public Safety

19. Walden University (Minneapolis, MN)

Established in 1970, Walden is a private, accredited, for-profit university offering mostly online programs to both undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of fields. Walden University consists of five colleges.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program allows students to gain a significant understanding of the criminal justice system. The Walden University online program educates students with a comprehensive combination of homeland security, technological. and management skills which students can transfer to their existing criminal justice occupation or use to advance within the justice system.

To graduate without a specialization, students must complete 46 total credits including core classes and electives. If students specialize in a particular criminal justice field, they may choose from a variety of topics such as Emergency Management, Policy Analysis, and Law and Public Policy.

20. Capella University (Minneapolis, MN)

Capella University, a regionally accredited university founded in 1993, is owned by the Capella Education Company and offers over 145 specialized online undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 36,000 students from all 50 states.

Capella University’s online Master in Criminal Justice program is designed to advance student’s careers in the fields of criminal justice, corrections, and the overall judicial system. The program covers topics such as cultural awareness, public policy, corrections systems, and the causes of criminal behavior such as addiction.

To complete the Master of Science in Public Safety program, a student must take 48 total program credits.

Graduates of the program can specialize in areas such as Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Public Safety Leadership.

The Online Master of Criminal Justice degree program provides core criminal justice courses such as:

• Collaboration, Communication, and Case Analysis for Master’s Learners
• Introduction to Research Methodology
• Public Safety Ethnic and Cultural Awareness

In 2010, the online university was awarded the CHEA Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes by The Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Community college grads, all!

Community colleges — sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges or city colleges — are mostly two-year public institutions of higher education, awarding certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees. Some community colleges offer technical credentials; many community colleges carry comprehensive transfer and career-oriented programs. Many community colleges offer adult and continuing education.

The name community college originates from the fact the colleges primarily attract students from the local community and they are often supported by local taxes.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the 1,132+ community colleges in the U.S. enroll nearly half of all undergraduates in the U.S.—just over 13 million students. These community colleges graduate 20-25 percent of all first-time, full-time students.

For millions of adult learners and students, community colleges are vital pathways to more advanced education or enhanced employment. Earning an associate degree is a springboard to advancement for many, whether they transfer the credits to a four-year college or use it to procure a better job.

An associate degree generally requires at least two but less than four years of full-time equivalent college work.

Junior college graduates are well positioned with technical and workforce skills businesses are looking for while commanding top salaries. According to a 2009 study by The Miami Herald, community college graduates, on average, earn a higher starting salary than those who graduate from four-year institutions.

We selected the top community colleges based on a comparison of several studies and ratings of community colleges, each with their own unique selection criteria, as well as the schools’ reputation and our review of notable community colleges. While completion/graduation rates are important to any college’s success, we identified several factors as especially significant to select the top community colleges:

• Sustained Achievement Outcomes: Ongoing success in student perseverance and completion of Associate Degrees and/or transfer to four-year colleges
• Learning Outcomes: Values and practices that actively engage students and require them to stretch academically; explore learning freely; pursue a variety of educational experiences and areas of study.
• Deployment Outcomes: Strong rates of employment, salaries and advancement for graduates matched with workplace skill needs
• Equitable Outcomes: Policies and practices that result in student diversity and success among low-income students and underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American)
• Cost-to-Value Outcomes: Reasonable tuition costs, access to financial aid resources and an emphasis on minimizing post-school debt.

These top 50 community colleges measure up strongly on these five outcomes and more.

* * *

Best Community Colleges: 1. Walla Walla Community College (WA)

Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), a multi-campus community college, is located in southeastern Washington. Situated on 100 acres, the Walla Walla campus is an educational and cultural hub for the region. Walla Walla Community College’s Clarkston Center, located in Clarkston, Washington, broadens its facilities and programs throughout a four-county district. Walla Walla Community college is a center of learning in Garfield and Asotin counties. WWCC also maintains a facility at the Washington State Penitentiary.

With a current annual enrollment of over 13,000 new, returning and international students, Walla Walla Community College offers courses in Academic Transfer Education, Professional/Technical Education, Transitional Studies and Extended Learning.

Generally speaking, academic courses (100 level or higher) at WWCC are transferable to most four-year institutions. WWCC’s e-learning program enables students to get an Associate’s degree entirely online or through a combination of on online and on-campus courses.

The Running Start program offers high-school juniors and seniors an opportunity to enroll in courses at Walla Walla Community College.

In addition to traditional areas of study, Walla Walla CC is a base for technical and local community learning, hosting the Ag Center of Excellence, educational opportunities in agriculture; College Cellars of Walla Walla, educational opportunities in the field of Enology and Viticulture, including an operating winery; Learning Center for Non Profits, resources, training and education to current and prospective staff and board members of nonprofits; Water and Environmental Center, education for environmental and economic sustainability; and the Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition, helping to improve the lives of children and families through early childhood experiences.

The Aspen Institute named Walla Walla Community College the 2013 co-winner of its prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute also recognized the junior college as a 2011 Finalist with Distinction for the same prize.

Best Community Colleges: 2. Santa Barbara City College (CA)

The 104-year-old Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is located in Santa Barbara, California, on a campus surrounded by stunning ocean views. The junior college serves the south coast of Santa Barbara County.

The community college offers more than 50 certificate programs and 80 degrees, with an average class size of 28. SBCC has an enrollment of 20,000 students, of which 7,500+ are full-time.

57% of full-time students at SBCC transfer to four-year colleges; more than half of those ultimately earn a bachelor’s degree. Agreements with 76 colleges (in and out of California) guarantee that SBCC credits are accepted for transfer; several schools ensure admission if a student meets academic requirements. The college’s Transfer Achievement Program (TAP) helps students make informed decisions in their planning for the transition from SBCC to a four-year university.

SBCC’s Express-to-Success program uses small learning communities to assist students through first-year remedial courses to yield a significant rise in students’ course completion.

The college has a diverse student population and serves many traditionally underserved students, including an ever-increasing population of Hispanics. Hispanic students, who consist of 30+% of the student population, have achieved a notable three year-graduation/transfer rate of 48%.

Aspen Institute named Santa Barbara City College the 2013 co-winner of its prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute also recognized the college as a 2011 Finalist for the same prize. Santa Barbara City College ranked #23 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 3. Lake Area Technical Institute (SD)

Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI), a technical school located in Watertown, South Dakota, is the first technical school established in South Dakota. The campus serves an 18,000 square mile area.

Lake Area Tech has 29 study programs and 11 E-degrees. The junior college serves more than 1,700 full-time, part-time and online students. The school boasts low tuition cost and a 99% graduate placement rate.

A sampling of the school’s programs: Agri-Business, Custom Paint & Fabrication Cosmetology, Robotics, Aviation Maintenance, and Nursing.

Lake Area Technical Institute leads the nation in graduation rates and t helps its graduates secure jobs at strong salaries.

76 percent of first-time, full-time LATI students graduate or transfer to a four-year college within three years; the national average is 40 percent.

LATI graduates recently averaged 40 percent in earnings than other new hires in the area.

Through program-to-program articulation agreements, LATI graduates from a specific program may transfer LATI technical credits to a specific degree plan at South Dakota State University. Selected general education classes and technical credits may be used.

Aspen Institute named Lake Area CC a 2013 Finalist with Distinction in its prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute also recognized the college as a 2011 Finalist with Distinction for the same prize. The college ranked #11 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 4. East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program & Technical Center (CA)

East San Gabriel Valley ROP/TC, located in West Covina, California, is one of 72 regional occupational programs (ROPs) in the state of California.

An ROP focuses on practical, hands-on career preparation and career guidance and is designed to provide high school and adult students with the technical skills required for specific jobs. Most of the classes offer community-based internships, in local business and industry sites.

East San Gabriel Valley ROP/TC provides core majors of study such as: Business Management, Child development, Criminal Justice, Green Facilities Management, Health Science and Visual Communication. The Center partners with over 250 businesses and over 40 support service agencies to provide these unified educational experiences.

The center has articulation agreements with the following community colleges and private post-secondary institutions:

• Citrus College
• Rio Hondo College
• Mt. San Antonio College
• Mt. Sierra College
• Pacific Oaks
• Westwood College
• DeVry
• ITT Tech

These agreements allow students, who successfully completed selected courses, to enroll in training programs at the community college, without having to repeat previously covered materials.

The community college ranked #1 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 5. New Mexico Military Institute (NM)

New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), located in Roswell, New Mexico, is the only state-supported, co-educational, military boarding school in the United States. NMMI offers a college preparatory, four-year high school and a two-year junior college.

One of only six military junior colleges in the U.S., New Mexico Military Institute’s organization and architecture is based on Virginia Military Institute. The campus encompasses 40 acres of land, including an 18-hole golf course.

Students at NMMI are referred to as “cadets” and the school averages 975 cadets, 95 percent of whom go on to four-year universities. At any time, cadets represent almost every state in the U.S. and a dozen foreign countries.

The Corps of Cadets at New Mexico Military Institute has its own chain of command, responsible to the Commandant of Cadets and his staff. All cadets live under an honor system and are expected to meet the highest values of personal integrity. The honor code states that no cadet will “Lie, Cheat or Steal or Tolerate Those Who Do.” Cadets are required to defend and enforce the honor system.

More than one-third of the college students are seeking an Army Commission. Annually, via a two-year Early Commissioning Program (ECP), the school commissions about 35 cadets as US Army 2nd Lieutenants.

New Mexico Military Institute offers an all-inclusive liberal arts curriculum. An Associate in Arts degree requires sixty-eight hours of coursework. A cadet may choose to concentrate in a particular area while pursuing an Associate of Arts degree.

Areas of concentration include:

• Humanities
• Math and science
• Social sciences/business
• Physical education/recreation

The community college ranked #2 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 6. North Central Kansas Technical College (KS)

North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech), a school of higher learning, offers degree, certificate and professional development education. NCK Tech’s main campus is located in Beloit, Kansas; the branch campus is located in Hays, Kansas.

North Central has an outstanding reputation for graduate placement, averaging over 90% annually. NCK Tech graduate salaries are consistently comparable to graduates of 2- and 4-year institutions.

The college offers 24 programs of study, including these major areas:

• Automotive Collision Technology
• Agricultural Equipment Technology
• Nursing
• Residential Electricity
• Diesel Technology

NCK Tech offers statewide articulation agreements in the following pathways:

• AV Communications
• Information Support/Services
• Network Systems
• Production – Welding
• Programming and Software Development
• Web/Digital Communications

The junior college has also developed The Kansas Institute of Underground Technology, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and local businesses.

The community college ranked #5 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012 and listed among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges by the Aspen Institute in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 7. Valencia College (FL)

Valencia College covers a broad region of mid-Florida, with campuses in east and west Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, and Lake Nona.

The college offers 30 Transfer Plans, 12 pre-major options and an Associate degree that guarantees admission to any Florida state university.

The school offers more than 60 non-degree technical certificate programs. Valencia’s continuing education program includes courses in career development, criminal justice, healthcare professions, language programs and professional development.

The school had an enrollment of more than 70,000 students in 2012. Valencia College has a very diverse student population.

Valencia ranks first among the U.S.’s two-year colleges for the total associate’s degrees awarded. The school’s graduation rate is triple the average of comparable two-year institutions in the U.S. Valencia ranks second in the number of degrees awarded to Hispanics and it’s designated a “Hispanic Serving” institution with 27+ percent Hispanic students. The college ranks third in the number of associate degrees awarded to African Americans.

Valencia graduates boast a job placement rate of 93%–95%.

Director Steven Spielberg has called Valencia College’s film program one of the best anywhere. The college’s “Filmmaker in Residence” program invites talented producers, directors, writers and cinematographers to work with students on film projects.

Valencia was the winner of the 2011 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and ranked as the No. 1 community college in the United States, according to Community College Week’s 2011 listing of the top 100 schools.

The college has an honors program and is a member of The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).

Best Community Colleges: 8. Snow College (UT)

Snow College, a two-year state college, is located in rural Ephraim, Utah, about 120 miles south of Salt Lake City. Snow College is a part of the Utah System of Higher Education. Two campuses—the main campus in Ephraim and another campus in Richfield, Utah—serve a six-county area in Utah.

Snow College boasts of having some of the lowest tuition rates of any accredited institution of higher education in Utah. Undergraduate enrollment averages 3000 yearly.

The college offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas. The major study divisions include:

• Business & Applied Technologies
• Humanities
• Fine Arts, Communication and New Media
• Natural science & Mathematics
• Social & Behavioral Science

The junior college also offers continuing education, online and honors classes.

Snow College is widely regarded for its athletics, music and arts programs. The Horne School of Music, an all-Steinway School, is one of only 23 2-year colleges accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music in the U.S. Snow College music graduates have played in some of the finest colleges and musical groups in the world.

Snow College hosts some of the finest U.S. music camps, such as the Juilliard Jazz Summer Workshop and the Manhattan to the Mountains Chamber Workshop.

The National Association of Schools of Theatre has awarded Snow’s theatre arts department full accreditation and membership, an honor only bestowed to three other 2-year colleges.

Snow College’s athletic teams, known as Badgers, are consistently highly ranked regionally and nationally.

The college’s art program is highly recommended and is known to other colleges throughout the US.

Some of its students have gone on to colleges including Cornwall, University of Utah, New York Art Academy and other institutions.

The Ephraim campus is home to the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (concert hall and theatre), Activity Center and art gallery; the Richfield campus houses the Sevier Valley Center, an indoor arena and theater. The surrounding community uses the facilities on both campuses.

Snow College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).

Snow College ranked #6 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012 and listed among the top 10% U.S. community colleges by the Aspen Institute in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 9. Saint Paul College (MN)

Saint Paul College a community and technical college, established in 1910 is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The school has about 10,000 full-time and part-time students. Saint Paul College offers traditional classes, online classes and hybrid classes.

The college provides 39 associate degree programs as well as 60 career certificate and diploma programs.

Saint Paul College focuses on advanced technology to enhance the curriculum and the learning experience. The school also provides students free tutoring.

The Power of YOU scholarship programs provide free tuition to qualified students who graduate from St. Paul or Minneapolis public schools.

Student Life provides an array of social, wellness, educational and cultural events.

Saint Paul College has transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities to provide pathways for students to transfer to continue their higher education.

Saint Paul College offers programs such as:

• Advanced manufacturing technology
• Computer graphics and programming
• Business
• Culinary arts
• American Sign Language interpreter and transliterator
• Health information technology
• Global trade
• Medical laboratory technology

Saint Paul College ranked the #1 community college in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of America’s best community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 10. Mayland Community College (NC)

Mayland Community College, located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, also operates the Avery Learning Center in Newland, North Carolina and the Yancey Learning Center in Burnsville, North Carolina. Mayland Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System. The college has partnerships with area colleges and universities to provide transfer options to students. The school offers 35 programs. The junior college offers an Associate in Arts, an Associate in Fine Arts and an Associate in Science degree.

Besides providing classes for college credit, Mayland Community College provides classes for enrichment, skills development and personal enjoyment.

Mayland Community College has the following academic departments:

• Arts & Sciences (College Transfer)
• Basic Skills
• Business, Engineering & Public Service Technologies
• Health Sciences
• Applied Technology Programs

Mayland Community College ranked the #4 community college in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of America’s best community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 11. Northwest Iowa Community College (IA)

Northwest Iowa Community College (NWICC), an institution of higher learning, is situated on a large campus in the rural town of Sheldon, Iowa.

For local residents, the Northwest Iowa Lifelong Learning and Recreation Center is a state-of-the-art recreational facility which includes an indoor walking/running track, fitness classes, yoga, Pilates, indoor cycling, training with certified personal trainers, and much more.

Northwest Iowa Community College offers vocational technical programs and arts and sciences transfer courses, a total of 43 programs. Examples of areas of stuffy include:

• Engineering Design
• Photography
• Early Childhood Education
• Paralegal
• Natural Resources & Conservation

NWICC’s student placement rate averages 98% and its skilled specialist programs have consistently had 100% employment success for its graduates.

The junior college has transfer agreements with universities throughout the Midwest, including South Dakota State University, University of Iowa, and Iowa State University.

Enrollment in credit programs is approximately 2,000 annually; non-credit enrollment exceeds 28,000 for students of high school completion, continuing education, online education and skill training services for area businesses.

The NWICC College for High School Students offers a chance for some to complete their high school diploma and begin career training or college-level study.

The NW Iowa Development Network is comprised of local and regional businesses and partners with NWICC and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) to address the rapid growth in the rural sector of NW Iowa.

Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #7 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012 and The Aspen Institute listed NW Iowa Community College among the top 10% of U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 12. Southeast Community College Lincoln (NE)

Southeast Community College Lincoln (SCC-Lincoln), a community college network, is located in the southeast portion of Nebraska. It has three campuses and more than 20 learning centers in a 15-county district. The annual enrollment of full-time and part-time commuter students across the various campuses is ~11,000.

SCC-Lincoln provides over 50 programs of study; it also offers 12 online study programs and more than 300 courses each term.

The college awards the Associate of Applied Science Degree, Associate of Arts Degree, Associate of Science Degree, Diploma, and Certificate. The Nebraska Transfer Initiative, a cooperative effort among Nebraska’s higher education institutions, provides a seamless transition for SCC-Lincoln graduates to four-year schools.

For eight consecutive years SCC-Lincoln has produced the most graduates in Precision Production fields (Computer Aided Design Drafting, Machine Tool Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology) than any other school in the U.S.

SCC-Lincoln offers workshops, classes and seminars to people of all ages in its Continuing Education Program. The junior college also hosts a nationally-renown Entrepreneurship Center which operates a business incubator for new and growing enterprises.

The community college has a special focus on global education, aiming to infuse global perspectives into all courses to better prepare students for an increasingly global workplace.

Southeast Community College Lincoln ranked #8 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012 and listed among the top 120 U.S. community colleges by the Aspen Institute in 2011 and 2013. The community college ranked #8 among a list of 786 community colleges in the U.S. for Student Success Rates, based on graduation and retention stats.

Best Community Colleges: 13. Victor Valley College (CA)

Victor Valley Community College, located in Victorville, California, offers associate degrees in an array of areas. The community college offers majors such as business management, registered nursing, music, welding, agriculture and natural resources, animation, criminal justice and construction technology. The college offers traditional classes and some online classes.

Victor Valley Community College, one of the largest community colleges in California, has about 12,000 full-time students.

Victor Valley College’s Health Science/Public Safety/Industrial Technology division provides career technical education.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) division prepares students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities and prepares them for careers requiring a math or science background.

The Victor Valley College Office of Instruction provides traditional classes, online classes and hybrid classes

The community college also provides the Instructional Programs, Humanities, Arts & Letters Division

Victor Valley Community College provides vocational technology labs in agriculture, engineering, construction, welding and in other fields.

The Center for institutional Excellence provides guidance and support for all the school’s academic and non-academic programs on campus. The center evaluates change and offers best educational practices via evaluations and program reviews.

Victor Valley College ranked #3 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 14. Georgia Military College (GA)

Georgia Military College, established in 1879 and located in Milledgeville, Georgia, is a co-educational liberal arts junior college and a separate preparatory school (grades 6-12). GMC focuses its educational programs on two facets: 1) Development of the intellect and 2) Elevation of character and three values: Duty, Honor and Country.

The main campus in Milledgeville serves approximately 275 full-time, resident ROTC students (the Corps of Cadets) and 200-300 commuting students. GMC’s 5 distance learning centers and 2 extension offices in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Madison, Sandersville, Valdosta and Warner Robins serve ~4,000 students.
The distance learning centers also serve as junior colleges to their local communities. The preparatory school’s ACCEL Program enables qualified seniors to attend classes at the junior college and the high school simultaneously, while earning credit for both their high school diploma and their college degree.

GMC is one of five military junior colleges in the Army’s Early Commissioning Program (ECP). Cadets who graduate from the college’s two-year, military science-oriented curriculum receive an officer’s commission in the U.S. Army.

After completing the two-year degree, GMC graduates pursuing a 4-year degree at Georgia’s senior military college, North Georgia College and State University (NGC&SU) in Dahlonega, Georgia qualify for a transfer scholarship. After completing their four-year degrees, they are promoted as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army. In addition, numerous articulation agreements exist between allied colleges.

The college offers 3 degrees: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in a variety of study areas, e.g. Criminal Justice, Human Communication, Logistics Management, International Affairs, Psychology.

GMC’s classes are small, typically no more than 15 students, and ensuring individual attention; for students who request it. Every course provides free tutoring.

College Atlas.org named MMI one of the top 25 community colleges. The college ranked #9 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012. GMC ranked #12 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of top 100 U.S. community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 15. DeAnza College (CA)

DeAnza College, located in Cupertino, California, also home to Apple, Symantec, Sun, Hewlett-Packard, and many other high-technology firms.

The community college is part of Silicon Valley’s Foothill-De Anza Community College District, which also administers Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. The district serves the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and San Jose.

The annual enrollment is ~22,000 students, with a transfer rate of ~1,800 students. DeAnza College has 10 instructional divisions which sustain more than 100 areas of study.

The college offers 90-plus associate degree and university transfer programs, including popular majors such as Animation, Broadcasting, Biological, Health and Environmental Sciences, Graphic Design and Computer Graphics.

The college’s Intercultural/International Studies program has garnered much attention and the college attracts students from more than 50 countries.

The Community Education program offers non-credit classes, weekend adult workshops and summer programs for children.

DeAnza College is a cultural hub for the Silicon Valley area. It is the home of Flint Center for the Performing, the Fujitsu Planetarium, the Euphrat Museum of Art and the California History Center.

The Kirsch Center, which opened in 2005, is a carbon-easy, sustainability-leading building and was the first community college building in the US to receive a LEED platinum rating. It’s a favored location for Silicon Valley conferences and events.

DeAnza College consistently ranks #1 or #2 in the state annually for the number of students who transfer to the University of California and California State University campuses. The college ranked #10 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. DeAnza ranked #45 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of the top 100 U.S. community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 16. Marion Military Institute (AL)

Marion Military Institute (MMI), located in Marion, Alabama, is a two-year junior college and regarded as the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in 1842, MMI is the oldest military junior college in the U.S. The junior college focuses on intellectual, moral-ethical, physical-athletic, and leadership development experiences in a military environment. In recent years, MMI has produced more than 206 admirals and generals; the school has a number of renowned military alumni.

MMI offers various military training programs including the Army’s Early Commissioning Program (ECP) in which qualified students can get commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after two years of college.

The Service Academy Preparation Program (SAP) provides freshmen a year of solid academic and physical preparation for students who wish to attend one of the Service Academies (West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Merchant Marine Academy or Coast Guard Academy). Marion also offers the first two years of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

MMI recently introduced a new program: An extracurricular flight-training program using a local partner in aviation. Enrollees learn to fly through a combination of online ground school instruction, computer-based and in-flight training.

Providing a private pilot’s certificate, the program is designed to preclude U.S. Air Force and Navy Initial Flight Screening (IFS) requirements.

Annual enrollment of degree- and non-degree-seeking students is ~400.

The junior college offers Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degree programs, based on a rigorous General Studies curriculum. Within these programs, students may select study options based on their interests; they can choose the General Studies curriculum or, focus on specific disciplines e.g. Natural Science, Pre-nursing, Elementary Education or Criminal Justice.

Cadet life at Marion is rich with extracurricular options such as Choir, Sports, Drama, Band, Drill Team, etc.

The college ranked #12 in the CNN Money list of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 17. Kingsborough Community College (NY)

Kingsborough Community College, located in Brooklyn, New York, is part of The City University of New York (CUNY) system. Kingsborough Community College provides a broad range of associate degree programs in the liberal arts and in career education. The community college also provides certificate programs in an array of areas.

Kingsborough Community College offers programs for special populations including the My Turn program which provides free tuition for residents 60 years of age and older. College Now prepares high school students for college-level work. New Start provides a second chance to students who had difficulty in college.

Most of the classes have less than 30 students, allowing instructors to teach students via hands-on learning and group discussions utilizing technology such as video-conferencing rooms and smart classrooms.

Kingsborough Community College named one of the nation’s top community colleges by the New York Times. The community college named a 2013 Aspen Institute Finalist with Distinction.

Community College Week reports Kingsborough Community College consistently ranks in the upper half of the top 100 community colleges in the nation awarding associate degrees to minorities as well as the number of associate degrees awarded in total.

Kingsborough Community College received an award from the national community college honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, for the chapter with the largest growth.

Best Community Colleges: 18. Western Wyoming Community College (WY)

Situated in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Western Wyoming Community College (WWCC) is one of seven community colleges in Wyoming. An extended campus center is located in Green River in Sweetwater County. Rock Springs is the fourth largest town in Wyoming; the next closest towns are Salt Lake City, Utah (180 miles) and Denver, Colorado (350 miles).

Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area are all accessible to the WCCCC community.

Due to the high elevation and harsh winters in the area, all of the main college is located indoors, connected by hallways.

The junior college awards one-year certificates in 36 program areas, including:

• Journalism
• Web Site Development
• Technical Theatre
• Accounting
• Digital Design Technologies
• Fitness Leadership
• Power Plant Maintenance Mechanics

Western Wyoming Community College confers Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), Associate of Nursing (AN), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, and a few four-year degrees in partnership with the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.

Degree-related programs include:

• Science and Mathematics
• Humanities and Fine Arts
• Health Science
• Social Science
• Business
• Technology & Industry

Close to 70 percent of students are in transfer programs. The school has a strong international students segment, with many resources including a host family program.

Online and compressed video courses are available statewide; online courses may be taken for associate, bachelor and master degree courses.

An annual “Wyoming Safety & Workforce Summit” is free to the community and offers presentations on safety issues and workforce development.

WWCC is also home to the Instructional Well-Site Facility, a closed-loop system that provides “real world” training for local industry technicians and customized specialty courses. This site also serves as a meeting space for industry professionals.

WWCC is a member of The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). College Atlas.org named WWCC one of the top 25 community colleges. The college ranked #13 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. Finally, WCCC ranked #15 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of the top 100 U. S. community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 19. North Iowa Area Community College (IA)

North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), a two-year community college located in Mason City, Iowa, serves the North Iowa region. North Iowa Area Community College was founded in 1918 as the first public two-year college in Iowa.

Annual enrollment at North Iowa is 3700, with 56% enrolled in transfer programs and 44% in Career/Vocational programs.

Among first-time, full-time degree-seeking students at NIACC, 42% graduate within 3 years and another 20% transfer prior to graduation.

NIACC has more than 40 articulation agreements with 4-year colleges and universities and almost all of the school’s career/vocational programs are transferable.

The community college has a notably low tuition, compared to other community colleges, colleges and universities in the region. Additionally, NIACC offers an “Extreme Makeover: College Edition” contest annually, where two lucky students win an entire year of education at NIACC for free, including textbooks and other resources.

NIACC Career & Technical graduates have a 95% placement rate while 91% of NIACC graduates continue to live and work in North Iowa.

NIACC’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is a major source of entrepreneurial support for local residents and the community in reaching their potential. The center has assisted in 127 new local business starts and 300+ new statewide starts.

The junior college has a strong intercollegiate athletics program – with more than 250 students involved — including men’s baseball, basketball, wrestling, golf, cross country, soccer and track & field; and women’s basketball, softball, cross country, volleyball, golf and track & field. For example, NIACC claimed the 2013 Region XI baseball title.

The NIACC Performing Arts & Leadership Series offers a variety of shows, entertaining ~16,000 people each year. Online classes and a continuing education program provide learning to more than 3000 participants annually.

The Aspen Institute listed North Iowa Area Community College among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges in 2013. The college ranked #14 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 20. Northeast Alabama Community College (AL)

Situated near Rainsville, Alabama between DeKalb and Jackson counties, Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) serves the Northeast Alabama region.

Through the academic divisions at Northeast Alabama Community College – Business & Computer Science, English & Fine Arts, Mathematics, Health Sciences, Social Science/Speech/Foreign Language and Natural Sciences — students may earn an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in more than 130 majors.

Career/Technical programs, which lead to a certificate or an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, include such programs as Drafting & Design Technology, Salon & Spa Management, Industrial Electronics, and Emergency Medical Services.

STARS (for state colleges and universities in Alabama) and 2TO4 (for independent colleges and universities in Alabama) are articulation agreements guaranteeing NACC credits transfer to four-year institutions and two years at NACC counts as two years towards a bachelor degree.

Graduates of its Technical/Career programs have ranked first within the Alabama Community College System in job retention and NACC students have placed first among prospective teachers taking the Basic Skills test.

Northeast Alabama Community College also has Distance Education, Continuing Education (including ESL and GED) and Workplace Education (classes offered by a company or industry specifically for its employees) programs available. Additionally, NACC chosen as one of 36 colleges to participate in the Plus 50 Encore Completion Program, a national effort sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to train 10,000 baby boomers for new jobs in healthcare, education and social services.

The community college ranked #15 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Northeast Alabama Community College among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 21. Colorado Mountain College (CO)

Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is a network of eleven community college campuses that serves nine counties in north-central Colorado: Chaffee, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Pitkin, Routt and Summit.

The average annual enrollment across all campuses is 24,000, with 3600 full-time students. The junior college grants associates degrees and four-year bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Sustainability Studies. Top degree programs are Business, Nursing, EMT, Outdoor Education and transfer programs.

Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, in an area that includes 15 of the 25 ski areas in Colorado, the college takes full advantage of its location to provide related courses of study. The most popular areas of study include:

• Sustainability studies
• Ski business
• Ski area operations
• Ski lift maintenance and operations
• Outdoor education
• Culinary arts
• Veterinary technology

Graduates of many of CMC’s courses are employed in Colorado’s winter and summer tourism-oriented economies. The Colorado Mountain College Ski Team at the Steamboat Springs campus is a member of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, the strongest college ski racing conference in the U.S.

In 2012, the Isaacson School for New Media, one of the country’s first community college programs dedicated to new media, opened at CMC. With classes offered at the Aspen, Colorado, Spring Valley and Glenwood Springs campuses, the school offers courses in digital journalism, digital media, digital marketing and design. The school provides professional training, certificates and degrees.

In another arena, students can earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Professional Photography at the Spring Valley campus. Faculty in the Photography program includes shared Pulitzer Prize winner Steven G. Smith.

CMC’s Workforce Training and Customized Business Services offers professional development courses e.g. supervisory skills, safety, workplace Spanish, social media.

Colorado Mountain College ranked #17 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. CollegeMeasures.org ranks CMC #17 in the nation for graduation plus transfer rates for schools with more than 200 full-time freshmen. The college is also ranked #1 among Colorado’s two-year colleges for graduation plus transfer rates.

Best Community Colleges: 22. Mitchell Technical Institute (SD)

Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI) is a post-high-school vocational technical school. MTI operates two campus locations.

Annual enrollment at MTI averages 1,000 students, with notable diversity. The school is military friendly and more than 89% of MTI students receive financial aid. MTI is respected for its strong job placement rate — 96% among its graduates.

MTI also strives to meet local business and community needs through adult, business and industrial training programs, including programs that require licensure or recertification. For example, the school has partnered with the satellite communications provider, GVF, to offer professional satellite communications courses for VSAT training.  Successful completion of the courses paired with the Hands-on-Skills Testing can lead to the GVF Basic VSAT Installer Certification or the GVF Advanced VSAT Installer Certification.

The Oak Room, an elegant dining room staffed by MTI students, is an integral part of the Culinary Academy at Mitchell Technical Institute. It serves meals five days a week, September through April.

MTI awards the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and offers diploma programs. The institute features 28 on-campus academic programs and 7 online degree-related programs across six study areas:

• Agricultural & Transportation Technologies
• Business & Service Industries
• Construction & Manufacturing Technologies
• Energy Production & Transmission
• Engineering Technologies
• Health Sciences

Examples of its degree programs include Power Sports Technology, Wind Turbine Technology, Satellite Communications and Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.

The Aspen Institute listed Mitchell Technical Institute among the top 10% of U.S. community colleges in 2011 and 2013. The community college ranked #16 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 23. Itasca Community College (MN)

Itasca Community College, established in 1922 is located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The community college has about 1,900 students. The college offers Associate in Arts degree, an Associate in Science Degree, an Associate in Applied Science degree, diplomas and professional certificates.

Besides traditional programs Itasca Community College provides several programs entirely online and an array of programs which include on-campus and online courses.

The school offers an. Students can complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree in just about any field.

Itasca Community College provides free tutoring and provides a special needs office, an academic resource center and computer labs. The school has on-campus student housing in Wenger and Itasca Halls.

Transfer programs include:

• Class Act
• Engineering
• Psychology
• Business
• American Indian Studies
• Geography/Geographic Information Systems
• Early Childhood Education
• Mass Communications
• Pulp and paper Science

Itasca Community Colleges is part of the Minnesota Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC)

Itasca Community College ranked the #5 community college in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of America’s best community colleges and #30 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 24. Alexandria Technical & Community College (MN)

Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, a rural community, Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) is a two-year college and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.

The school offers more than 50 study programs, ranging from certificates to Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Arts (AA) degrees. Alexandria T&C is one of the few colleges in Minnesota that offers a law enforcement program, making it one of ATCC’s most popular programs; students in the law enforcement program may earn an AAS degree, an AS transfer degree and a career transition degree.

Alexandria Technical & Community College serves 2200 students annually, in studies from Farm/Ranch Management to Web/Multimedia Design, Nursing to Hospitality Administration and Fashion Management to Computer & Voice Networking.

The school provides assistance for students with disabilities, tutoring services and writing assistance.

Alexandria Technical & Community College has the highest graduation rate for two-year public colleges in the state of Minnesota as well as a high job placement rate of over 90%.

With Alexandria’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), high school students are able to enroll full-time or part-time in college courses or programs. PSEO students receive free tuition and course required textbooks at no cost.

College Atlas.org named CVTC one of the top 25 community colleges in 2012. The college ranked #27 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Alexandria among the top 10% of U.S. community colleges in 2013. Alexandria ranked #8 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of the top 100 U. S. community colleges.

Best Community Colleges: 25. West Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)

West Kentucky Community & Technical College, located in Paducah, Kentucky, is one of the sixteen open admissions, two-year colleges within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The school serves 10 counties in the Purchase and surrounding area.

WKCTC offers 3 two-year degrees – Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, and? Associate in Science – all with a general education core and additional courses designed to parallel the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.

The school provides a broad array of instructional programs ranging from Fire/Rescue Science and Homeland Security/Emergency Management Technology to Culinary Arts and Respiratory Care.

West Kentucky’s Workforce Solutions offers specialized training for local businesses and professionals. The online training program includes classes in Residential Construction. For residents of every age its Community Education department offers a variety of programs including Zumba, Lego Summer Camp, Science Camp, Cooking, Estate Planning, Senior Learning, etc.

The community college houses the Clemens Fine Arts Center which presents a diverse itinerary of performance and visual arts opportunities, including professional touring productions of plays and musicals, dance companies, celebrity recording artists, speaker series and art exhibits, as well as performances by students and local residents.

WKCTC provides a variety of extracurricular activities including career clubs, professional fraternities and faith/ethnic/cultural organizations.

Aspen Institute named West Kentucky C&T College a 2013 Finalist in its prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Institute also recognized the college as a 2011 Finalist with Distinction for the same prize.

Best Community Colleges: 26. Rend Lake College (IL)

Rend Lake College (RLC), located in Ina, Illinois, on the eastern shore of Rend Lake, has two satellite campuses: Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon and the Rend Lake College Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus.

Rend Lake College calls itself “a college small enough to get to know you on a personal basis, but large enough to meet your educational needs.”

RLC offers more than 100 programs of study in degree programs and occupational certificates. The junior college has five academic divisions:

• Allied Health
• Applied Science and Technology
• Health and Physical Education
• Liberal Arts
• Math, Science and Education

A few examples of degree-programs are Surveying Technology (AAS), Wireless Communications Technology (AAS), Architectural Technology (AAS) and Early Childhood Education (AAS).

Annual enrollment at RLC averages 5000 for full-time, degree-focused students, 4000 part-time students and 4000 non-credit enrollees.

Rend Lake College had been characterized as serving a relatively homogenous rural, small town culture. However, ethnic diversity has expanded at the school, as the college has broadened its study programs and with greater mobility across the country.

The campus has notable facilities: The Jimmy J. Fulks Aquatics Center includes a six-lane, 75’x45’ pool with a ramp for the physically challenged, a therapy pool and a whirlpool. In addition to classes, the pool is available for recreational use and public memberships.

The Applied Science Center is a 22,300 sq. ft. facility that houses a number of programs, including Agricultural Business, Agricultural Production, Agricultural Mechanics, Heavy Equipment and Diesel Technology. The RLC Children’s Center serves the child care needs of students and staff, as well as the educational laboratory needs of the college’s Early Childhood Education program.

The school’s Learning Enhancement Center and its SMARTHINKING Online Tutoring Program are resources available to all RLC students.

The Student Transfer And Retention Support (STARS) Program was created to assist RLC students successfully complete a college degree and transfer to a four-year university.

The college ranked #18 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Rend Lake among the top 10% of U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 27. Ellsworth Community College (IA)

Founded in 1890, Ellsworth Community College (ECC) is a two-year community college located in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The school is part of the Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD). All online classes are accredited.

ECC offers 55 programs of study, including:

• Mortuary Science
• Conservation Technology
• Pre-Vet Medicine,
• Wildlife/Fisheries/Forestry
• Physical Therapy
• Law

Enrollment at ECC averages 1000 students annually: 89% of students are Iowa residents; over 50% earn an Associate in Arts (AA) degree or Associate in Science Career Option (ASCO) degree. Ellsworth has agreements with Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, along with other colleges. Credits transfer to almost any four-year college.

The Dale Howard Family Activity Center was erected with ECC students and the community in mind. The wellness program includes an indoor walking/running track, state-of-the-art circuit training equipment, treadmills and fitness bikes. There is also a pool, sauna, indoor tennis court, and a variety of fitness classes.

The 75,100 sq. ft. Ellsworth Equestrian Center, part of the 40-acre Robert & Arlene Hamilton campus, is a hub of activity, with year-round events.

As a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), ECC competes in nine intercollegiate sports. The Ellsworth football team has won two NJCAA national championships. The school offers men’s football, basketball, wrestling, golf and baseball.

The community college ranked #19 in the CNN Money listing of top U.S. community colleges in 2012. In April 2012, the Des Moines Register reported that, according to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, ECC graduates have the 6th lowest average student debt load of any college in Iowa, due largely to the outstanding scholarship and financial aid packages awarded. The Washington Monthly rated Ellsworth the 17th best community college in the nation in 2007.

Best Community Colleges: 28. Pearl River Community College (MS)

Situated in Poplarville, Mississippi, Pearl River Community College was the first junior college established in Mississippi (1924). The college has four locations: The main campus in Poplarville, The Forrest County Center and Lowery Woodall Advanced Technology Center in Hattiesburg, and the Hancock Center in Waveland.

The junior college has a strong athletics program, with its football, men’s basketball, women’s soccer and baseball teams winning regional and national championships on a recurring basis. Several Pearl River graduates have gone on to play football and men’s basketball professionally.

With an average annual enrollment of 5300, Pearl River Community College offers an associate degree and transferrable credits for those seeking a four-year degree.

Career-focused and technical studies include Web Development, Truck Driving, Aerospace Electronics, and Accounting.

High school students may choose dual enrollment and receive college credits.

Online courses are offered for those with full-time jobs and distance learners.

The college’s Student Success Center offers tutoring, career advising, peer mentoring, transfer assistance and other resources.

The Malone Chapel at the Poplarville campus provides fine arts and music events by the college’s award-winning performing ensembles, visual art students and theatre program.

Pearl River is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). Its Honors Institute has an Honors Study Abroad component.

The community college ranked #20 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Pearl River Community College among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 29. Brazosport College (TX)

Located about one hour south of Houston in Lake Jackson, Texas, Brazosport College occupies 156 acres in southern Brazoria County. The college has just below 6,000 students.

After a serious self-examination a few years ago, Brazosport College has been on a mission to strengthen its outcomes. Since then, the college has more than doubled its retention rates, reduced achievement gaps, and improved significantly in helping students complete their degree programs, particularly minority students. Today, 68% of all awards are conferred.

Brazosport College offers a rich variety of courses to address diverse educational goals. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree can enroll in courses in sixteen majors that transfer to four-year schools.

Students interested in acquiring a certificate or degree in an occupational or technical field can take courses leading to a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Industrial Management in four areas and an Associate of Applied Science degree in 19 areas.

Brazosport College maintains solid relationships with the local community and the region’s major petrochemical employers, BASF and Dow Chemical, partnering with companies to provide technical training as needed. Examples include the Center for Business and Industry and the Small Business Development Center. The college is also committed to lifelong learning — from its Saturday Morning Enrichment classes for K-5th graders and summer-based Kids’ College and Teen College to its Adult Life and Learning Program for seniors.

Brazosport College was named a 2013 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence. The college is a member of The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC)

Best Community Colleges: 30. Pierce College (WA)

Pierce College, in Puyallup, Washington, is a two-year community college serving the Pierce County college district. The college has two main colleges — Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood and Pierce College Puyallup in Puyallup; its extended learning sites are Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, and South Hill.

With just under 25,000 students enrolled in 2012, about 6500 attend the campus at Pullayup annually. One-third of Pierce students are ethnic minorities. Of the total enrolled, 50 percent plan to transfer to a 4-year college while 32 percent are enrolled in professional/ technical programs. The school offers continuing education and online classes.

The junior college offers 34 associate degrees and 34 professional certificates in 61 programs of study. The most popular study areas are Pre-Nursing, Criminal Justice, Pre-Dental Hygiene and Early Childhood Education.

Arts & Culture have become core activities at Pierce, including live theater, performing music, literary arts magazine, art gallery, and PierceTV.

The Rainier Science and Technology Building, erected in 2010, provides classrooms, science and math labs, offices, and two winter-gardens (plant-filled glass atriums).

The Arts and Allied Health Building, featuring a theater, art gallery, recording studio, nursing skills and graphic labs, has refreshed the Puyallup campus.

Both the Rainier and the Arts & Allied Health buildings are eco-friendly and have earned gold certification by LEED for environmental accountability and sustainability. They have become a part of the college’s curriculum and increased focus on environmental sustainability.

The Pierce College Science Dome is a 58-seat domed visualization theater, the only one of its kind in the South Puget Sound region; it’s used for classes and is available for pre-K-12 class visits.

The college ranked #22 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Pierce College at Puyallup among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 31. Garden City Community College (KS)

Garden City Community College (GCCC), located in Garden City, Kansas, is one of 19 community colleges throughout Kansas.

The junior college offers over 30 programs leading to an Associate of Arts (AA) transfer degree, an Associate of Science (AS) transfer degree, an Associate of Science in Nursing, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) terminal degree, and the Associate of General Studies (AGS) transfer degree.

Garden City Community College has a high rate of program on-time completion. For example, Manufacturing Technology students graduate at the rate of 73%; Practical Nurse students graduate at 85%. GCCC has articulation agreements with universities and colleges in Kansas. And, according to GCCC, its students consistently earn higher GPAs at their transfer schools than those who spend their entire college time at the transfer institution.

GCCC’s online education program, eduKan Online University, belongs to a consortium of colleges that allow for transfer of online course credits.

Project Destiny is a Kansas High School Equivalency Program (HEP) for migrant/seasonal workers to earn a high school diploma or equivalent, prepare for post-secondary education, enter a chosen career or enlist in the U.S. armed forces.

Garden City Community College has experienced large success in football, basketball, and baseball, producing notable alumni and professional players.

The college’s Business and Industry division offers a wide array of career training and enhancement courses e.g. Cyber Security for Managers, Media Buying Strategies and Sustainable Energy, Improving Email Promotions and Going Green.

In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Garden City Community College serves small businesses throughout Southwest Kansas.

The college ranked #24 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Garden City Community College among the top 10% of U.S. community colleges in 2011 and 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 32. Independence Community College (KS)

Independence Community College (ICC), situated in Independence, Kansas, is located about halfway between Joplin, Missouri, and Wichita, Kansas, to the east and west, and Kansas City, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the north and south. ICC has a second campus on the west side of Independence.

The community college offers 22 certificate programs in vocational occupations. Certificate programs include computer programming, administrative office management, small business management, theatre and more. Associate degrees can be earned in the arts, sciences, and applied sciences.

Examples of the 46 programs of study include athletic training, accounting, early childhood education, various specialties in engineering technology, liberal studies, management, theater, and, through a partnership with Neosho County Community College, nursing.

The second campus, ICC West, houses allied health, EMS, cosmetology, GED/ABE, and veterinary technology. The state-of-the-art facility includes a classroom, lab, animal wards, prep room, small animal treatment, surgery, food prep, grooming, pharmacy, and radiology.

The school sponsors TRIO and Upward Bound, a college preparatory program assisting 60 participants from 8 target schools in Chautauqua, Labette, Montgomery, and Wilson Counties to succeed in their studies.

The William Inge Center for the Arts offers a chance for ICC students to work directly with professionals in theatre. Named after famous playwright and alumni, William Inge, the center presents an annual Inge Festival: a four-day festival in which students and community residents attend workshops and plays and tour historical sites that were part of Inge’s childhood.

ICC has athletic programs on campus including football, volleyball, men’s/women’s soccer, men’s/women’s basketball, women’s softball, baseball, and golf.

ICC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for junior colleges, ranked in the top 100 out of 1,100 active chapters. Independence Community College ranked #21 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 33. Coconino Community College (AZ)

Coconino Community College (CCC) serves northern Arizona. The main campus is in Flagstaff, Arizona; other college locations include Grand Canyon, Tuba City, Page/Lake Powell, Fredonia, Williams and Flagstaff Lone Tree.

The college serves over 10,000 students annually and offers more than 70 associate degrees and certificates. CCC offers courses in Arts & Science, Career & Technical, and Corporate & Community Learning.

The junior college provides Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in an array of study areas including Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Dance, Visual Arts, etc.

The college’s S.T.A.R.T. and TRIO programs provide many resources to help CCC students succeed academically. CCC’s Community Learning program, specializing in corporate development and professional courses, offers a six-module Leadership Academy.

The school’s Life Long Learning program includes courses such as Beginning Japanese, Bouldering, Fly Tying and Beginning Flamenco. Instruction is available through on-campus, online and interactive TV (ITV) courses.

CCC’s Small Business Development Center, a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers a series of monthly workshops on business basics and offer specialized workshops throughout the year.

Under the distinguished CCC2NAU program, Coconino Community College partners with Northern Arizona University and 16 other colleges to manage transfer needs to a four-year college. The CC2NAU program earned several awards including a 2012 Lee Noel and Randi Levitz Retention Excellence Award, a 2012 Outstanding Institutional Advancement Advising Program Award from the National Academic Advising Association, and the Arizona College Access Network’s 2011 Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award.

Coconino Community College ranked #25 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 34. Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)

Southeast Kentucky C&T College (SKCTC), located in Cumberland, Kentucky, is one of 16 two-year colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The college serves Bell, Harlan and Letcher counties in Kentucky, and boundary counties in Tennessee and Virginia.

Southeast Kentucky C&T College offers Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees and an extensive list of diploma and certificate programs.

Unique programs of study include Surgical Technology, Professional Craft: Pottery, Computer Aided Drafting & Design, Funeral Service and Radiography.

More than 50 percent of the student body is enrolled in transfer programs. Under Kentucky law, students who complete an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree can have their course work accepted at any state, public four-year school.

Through a partnership with the “Kentucky Virtual Campus,” SKTCT students can take more than 1,100 classes online.

Additionally, the college sponsors the Upward Bound Math Science program to prepare low-income and first-generation college bound students for success in higher education.

“Project Lead The Way” is a middle school and high school project to prepare students for success in engineering and engineering technology programs.

SKCTC also offers workforce courses in a variety of fields including: Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Kentucky Safety Training Institute, Kentucky Coal Academy, Drinking Water Treatment, and Mining Career and Technical Training.

The Pine Mountain Community Development Corporation (PMCDC) is a multi-bank community development corporation that provides start-up or expansion capital to microenterprises and small businesses in the SKTCT region. The Small Business Development Center provides new and existing businesses with counseling, training and other resources.

The Southeast Kentucky C&T College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). The community college was named a 2013 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence.

Best Community Colleges: 35. Moorpark College (CA)

Moorpark College is a community college located in Moorpark, in Ventura County, California. Moorpark, along with Oxnard College and Ventura College, form the Ventura College Community College District.

With an annual enrollment of just under 14,000 students, 33% carry 12 or more units. Minorities make up over 18% of the students; 150 foreign students from 52 different countries attend Moorpark College.

The college offers 1,500 classes per semester in 70 disciplines, including a broad variety of transfer majors for a bachelor’s degree and programs that lead to associate degrees and certificates of achievement. Moorpark College offers occupational majors geared to local and national employment needs and trends. Also, the college has one of the country’s most successful community college speech teams.

Based on enrollment, Moorpark College ranks second in the state for transfer to the University of California and California State University systems. Moorpark has established over 1,325 articulation-by-major agreements with University of California, California State University, and private/independent colleges and universities.

Moorpark College is home to some distinctive learning amenities: The Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) Program has an on-site teaching zoo open to the public; the Charles Temple Observatory, the only public observatory in Ventura County, hosts astronomy classes and public programs; the Child Development Center serves as a practicum/observation site for the Child Development Program; and the Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility where students can present musical, comedy, speech, and theatrical productions.

Moorpark College partnered with nearby Oxnard College in establishing the Camarillo Center, located on California State University, Channel Islands’ campus. The center, an 8,000 square foot bio-manufacturing facility, houses the Instructional Biotechnology Program.

The High School at Moorpark College awards dual college and high school credit to local junior and senior high students and the college participates in the Foster Youth Success Initiative to support foster youth in their educational pursuits. Moorpark’s “Desire2Learn” program offers online courses to students. Each summer, the college presents a Jr. Safari Summer Camp for kids aged 7-13.

The college ranked #26 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 36. Clarendon College (TX)

Located in Clarendon, Texas – the county seat of Donley in the Texas Panhandle – Clarendon College (CC) is a small community college serving the counties of Armstrong, Briscoe, Childress, Collingsworth, Donley, Gray, Hall, and Wheeler. The college operates branch campuses in Pampa and Childress. The college is more than 200 years old and is one of 50 community colleges in Texas. The school also offers online learning.

Clarendon College has an annual enrollment of 1500 students. Although most of CC’s students come from the local region, the college has an impressive diversity of students, including international students, despite its small size.

Clarendon College confers certificates and 2-year degrees. The curriculum for the Associate in Arts (AA) and the Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed for the student planning to transfer to a senior college or university.

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is awarded for successful completion of a two-year workforce education program with prescribed occupational competencies.

The Certificate of Technology and the Certificate of Completion are awarded for successful completion of competencies and curriculum in a workforce education program of less than two years in length.

The college has 27 programs of study across three academic divisions: Liberal Arts, Science & Health, and Workforce.
Examples of study programs include:

• Ranch & Feedlot Ops
• Office Technology
• Speech
• Geology
• Drama
• Developmental Studies
• Government/Political Science

Clarendon has a solid athletics program. Intercollegiate teams at CC include baseball, softball, men’s/women’s basketball, men’s basketball, volleyball, cross country, golf, cheerleading, rodeo, meats judging, livestock judging, and ranch horse team. Clarendon’s campus life is active with many students clubs and organizations e.g. Drama Club, Multicultural Club, College Choir, Block and Bridle, Rodeo Team, White Caps.

The school offers a summer enrichment program, “Kids College,” for boys & girls 5-15.

The college ranked #28 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 37. College of the Ouachitas (AR)

College of the Ouachitas, situated in Malvern, Arkansas, is a full two-year college in south-central Arkansas. The school also manages the Ouachita Area Career Center (OACC), the Ouachita Area Adult Education Center (OAAEC), and the Workforce Center.

College of the Ouachitas has a general enrollment of 1400 annually. The school especially serves low-income students: 61% of first-time undergraduate students at the college receive Pell grants.

In recent years, College of the Ouachitas has shown continual increases in degrees awarded. For every 100 full-time equivalent students, 46 students at College of the Quachitas complete their degrees. Additionally, compared to the national average of 40%, 47% of first-time full-time students at College of the Ouachitas graduate or transfer within three years.

The college features a broad curriculum. College of the Ouachitas offers certification in a variety of academic, law enforcement, medical, and technical fields.

College of the Ouachitas grants Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Arts (AA) degrees in its five study divisions:

• Allied Health Science
• Applied Science Technology
• Arts, Sciences, and Education
• Business Technology
• Professional Studies

Some popular degree programs include:

• Nursing
• Engineering and manufacturing technology
• Crime scene investigation
• Law enforcement administration
• Teaching
• Management
• Medical office administration
• Early childhood education

Beyond its GED preparation courses, the school’s Adult Education program offers the WAGE™ Program through which potential employees can earn state recognized certificates: Employability, Industrial, Clerical, Bank Teller and Customer Support I and II.

The school’s Continuing Education program provides online courses and, in collaboration with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, the Child Care Orientation Training (CCOT). The CCOT course is the first step towards obtaining a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate.

College of the Ouachitas is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). The college was named a 2013 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence.

Best Community Colleges: 38. Foothill College (CA)

Foothill College, located in Los Altos Hills, California, is part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. The campus has garnered praise and awards for its beautiful Japanese-inspired campus and unique architectural design.

The school’s facilities –the Krause Center for Innovation, Japanese Cultural Center, Observatory, Bamboo Garden & Azumaya Meditation Pavilion, Robert C. Smithwick Theater and Dental Health Clinic – are well utilized by the local community.

The college offers 79 Associate degree programs and 107 certificate programs throughout 6 divisions of study: Biological & Health Sciences, Business & Social Sciences, Fine Arts & Communication, Language Arts, Physical Sciences, Mathematics & Engineering.

Foothill was the first community college in California to offer online courses. The school offers 500+ online courses.

The Krause Center for Innovation features professional development education and training for teachers, serving K-12 educators through three programs: Making Education Relevant and Interactive through Technology (MERIT), the Faculty Academy for Mathematics Excellence (FAME), and FASTTech courses designed and developed to address the technology training needs of elementary, middle, secondary and community college educators.

The average student enrollment is 18,000, with a rich cultural diversity. According to Community College Week in 2001, Foothill had the 12th highest population of international students of all community colleges in the U. S. and its English as a Second Language (ESL) program allows foreign students to earn a two-degree and prepare for a four-year college. Foothill College’s 62% transfer rate is the best in the state of California.

The college ranked #29 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 39. Northeast Iowa Community College (IA)

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) serves all or parts of thirteen Iowa counties. NICC has two main campuses – Calmar and Peosta (close to Dubuque) – and a satellite campus in downtown Dubuque.

Northeast Iowa Community College awards the Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees.

The community college offers programs in a number of study areas such as:

• Education
• Human and Public Services
• Health Sciences
• Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Technology
• Agricultural and Animal Science

The community college also provides transfer programs for those seeking to continue their education at four-year institutions.

Northeast Iowa Community College has an articulation agreement with the University of Dubuque to provide a transfer option and has similar agreements with other four-year schools to guarantee students will be able to transfer their credits.

Northeast Iowa Community College’s distance learning courses include online courses, courses in a two-way, interactive fiber optic network called Iowa Communications Network (ICN), and hybrid options.

NICC’s Business and Community Solutions offers an array of non-credit courses for individuals and customized on-site training for local businesses.

The Peosta Campus is home to the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), an accredited agricultural training center.

In 2011, President Obama and his cabinet visited the school to host the “White House Rural Economic Forum.”

The college named a 2011 Finalist with Distinction in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence. The college ranked #63 in the CNN Money listing of top community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 40. Chippewa Valley Technical College (WI)

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) is part of the part of the Wisconsin Technical College System; its largest campus is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. CCTC also has campuses in Menomonie, Chippewa Falls, Neillsville and River Falls. The college provides support to the workforce needs of the region.

Chippewa Valley Technical College provides associate degree, technical diploma, certificate and adult continuing education programs. The college offers traditional classes as well as online classes and blended and hybrid formats.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has small class sizes.

Programs are available in the following categories:

• Agriculture Food and Natural Resources
• Architecture and Construction
• Business, Finance and Marketing
• Health Sciences
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Law, Public Safety and Security
• Manufacturing
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
• Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

The college offers certificates in the following categories:

• Business, Finance & Marketing
• Health Science
• Information Technology
• Law, Public Safety & Security
• Manufacturing

The college sponsors apprenticeships in the following fields:

• Electric Line Worker
• Electrician (Construction)
• Plumber
• Sheet Metal
• Steamfitter

The college’s Business & Industry Services provides a wide range of professional development seminars and continuing education training.

Chippewa Valley Technical College provides a variety of student clubs.

CVTC is #1 in Career and Technical Education Teacher Award recipients for Wisconsin technical colleges.

Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #10 in the Washington Monthly 2010 ranking of America’s 50 best community colleges list and named a 2013 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence.

Best Community Colleges: 41. Kaskaskia College (IL)

Situated in Centralia, Illinois, Kaskaskia College is the oldest community college in Illinois.

Kaskaskia College has an average annual enrollment of 12,000 students. The college offers 41 associate degree career programs and 93 certificate programs.

Kaskaskia students earn Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Kaskaskia College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that provides transfer of completed courses in the Transfer Core Curriculum between participating colleges.

To assist students in successful completion of their courses, Kaskaskia’s Student Success Center offers tutoring, academic workshops, testing and learning assessments and career resources.

In partnerships with regional businesses, Kaskaskia College works to ensure a skilled and motivated workforce throughout the district. Annually, the college serves some 2,500 business/industry employees with educational programs and 4,000 others through its Career Center and its Continuing and Community Education programs.

Kaskaskia College houses and directs the Illinois Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) and the International Trade Center (ITC).

Kaskaskia College’s athletic programs include men’s/women’s basketball, men’s/women’s golf, women’s softball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance team, cross country, men’s/women’s soccer, men’s baseball, and men’s/women’s tennis. In 2013, The KC golf team finished 4th overall in the Region XXIV Tournament.

Kaskaskia College ranked #37 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 42. Southwest Texas Junior College (TX)

Southeast Texas Junior College (SWTJC) is a two-year college serving 11 counties in southwest Texas, an area stretching from the Texas Hill Country to the US-Mexican border. SWTJC has six campuses: Uvalde, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Hondo, Pearsall and Crystal City.

Student enrollment runs 6,000 annually, with 4,000 of those full-time students. 24% of SWTJC’s students receive their courses via online, interactive video and the Virtual College of Texas. Online and videoconferencing instruction are offered at all of SWTCC’s campuses.

The junior college awards Associate (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees and several levels of certificates.

Numerous articulation agreements between two- and four-year institutions facilitate the transfer process. 2 + 2 Plans and Transfer Guides are available for most of the major Texas colleges and universities.

SWTCC’s Local Articulation program is a partnership between area high schools, local businesses and SWTJC. By offering six different study programs, high school students can earn free college credit towards an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree at SWTJC.

The school’s academic programs include Business, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, and Teaching.
Technical programs include Automotive Technology, Radiologic Technology, Vocational Nursing, Management and Wildlife Management.

Workforce Training programs include Emergency Medical Technician, K-9 Handler, Lineman Training, Nurse Aide, and Real Estate. The college is a member of the South Texas Club Sports League (STCSL), which consists of teams from Alamo Colleges and from two-year colleges not associated with any other athletic leagues. SWTCC competes in women’s volleyball and men’s/women’s basketball.

Annually, the college presents its SWTJC Creative Arts Contest. Winners in ten age divisions and ten literary and visual art categories receive modest cash prizes at the school’s annual awards ceremony.

The college named a 2011 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence.

Best Community Colleges: 43. Mott Community College (MI)

Situation in Flint, Michigan, Mott Community College is a community college serving Genesee, Lapeer, and northwest Oakland counties. The college is named after Charles Stewart Mott and includes five learning centers.

Offering its curriculum to 10,500 students annually, with 6500 part-time and 4000 full-time, Mott Community College has 26% minorities represented and 82% from within the college district. Mott Community College has eight academic divisions, featuring 61 associate degrees and 40 pre-associate certificates.

The most popular courses are within the Humanities division including courses such as Radio and Television & Film, Sign Language Interpreter Education and Composition for Technical Fields.

The Mott Community College Men’s Basketball team won the 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2012 national NJCAA Men’s Division II Basketball Championship games. They were the division runner-ups in 2001, 2004, and 2011.

In 2002, MCC opened its landmark Regional Technology Center (RTC), a high-technology educational facility. Along with the RTC, and with support from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Mott Foundation, MCC also created the world’s first Manufacturing Simulation Technology curriculum. Since then, the college has established Community Technology Centers in three urban neighborhoods to help local residents cross the “digital divide.”

The Visual Arts & Design Center provides education in the fine arts and graphic design.

MCC is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).

Mott Community College named a 2011 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence and listed among the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers in 2011 by Community College Week.

In 2010, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) named MCC’s president, Dr. M. Richard Shaink, as this year’s best community college president in North America (covering American states and territories as well as Canadian provinces and territories).

Best Community Colleges: 44. Linn State Technical College (MO)

Linn State Technical College (LSTC), located in Linn, Missouri, is Missouri’s only two-year public college with a focus on technical education.

Enrollment at Linn State averages 1,100 each year. The majority of LSTC students are from Missouri. Since 1995, 95% of LSTC graduates are gainfully employed or continue their education within six months of graduation.

One characteristic of Linn State Technical College courses is the required General Education coursework to establish a solid foundation in math, oral and written English, science and computing skills. Another characteristic is the integration of academic and technical education into a balanced program to create highly skilled and broadly knowledgeable technicians.

30-plus programs offer advanced technical training in current and emerging technologies. One-of-a-kind Associate of Applied Science degrees offered by LSTC include Aviation Maintenance, Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician option in Heavy Equipment Technology, Electric Power Generation Technology, Nuclear Technology and Power Sports Technology

Students can obtain certificates for one year, less-than-one-year and one semester in the General Education Core.

Linn State’s Business and Industry Department provides customized training to companies throughout Missouri, helping employers build a skilled workforce.

The Continuing Technical Education program is directed towards construction contractors and governmental employees e.g. Blueprint Reading, Construction Math Refresher, and Asphalt Mixed Design.

Linn State ranked #39 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 45. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MS)

The main campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) is located in Perkinston, Mississippi; other campuses and learning centers include the Jackson County Campus (in Gautier), the Jefferson Davis Campus (in Gulfport), the Community Campus, a non-traditional campus without walls, the George County Center (in Lucedale), the West Harrison County Center (in Long Beach), the Applied Technology and Development Center (in Gulfport), and the Keesler Center (at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi).

The junior college awards an Associate of Arts degree in 29 programs of study including:

• Occupational Therapy
• Music
• Elementary Education
• Art Education
• Pharmacy

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offers more than 50 Career/ Technical programs including Electrical Lineman Apprentice, Food Production & Management Technology and Machine Tool Technology.

In addition to some out-of-state institutions, MGCCC participates in the articulation agreement between Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi State Board for Community & Junior Colleges.

Online courses are offered via the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) consortium, comprised of 15 community colleges throughout Mississippi.

MGCCC’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College provides student education and career-relevant experience through community service and civic responsibility.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center was established in partnership with MGCCC, Mississippi Power and the Harrison County Development Commission. The center serves as a training facility to support economic development activities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has a solid athletics program and competes in intercollegiate sports in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, golf and tennis.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College listed among the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers 2011 by Community College Week. The college named a 2011 Finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Prize for Community College Excellence.

Best Community Colleges: 46. Washington County Community College (ME)

Washington County Community College (WCCC) is located in Calais, Washington County, Maine, overlooking the St. Croix River; it’s in a rural area on the border between the United and Canada. WCCC is one of seven colleges in the Maine Community College System. Washington County Community College has a general enrollment of 500 students.

WCCC is a residential college with 24 study programs – from Adventure Creation and Tourism to Geographic Information Systems, from Building Construction Technology to Human Services.

The college provides Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees, Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees as well as diplomas and certificates.

Washington County Community College also offers courses in business/job training, personal enrichment, community service, for high school students and online learning.

Associate’s degree credits may be transferred to a four-year university and count towards completion of the first two years of their bachelor’s degree. MaineStreet is a listing of transferrable courses that fall within the articulation agreements with colleges within the Maine College System.

Washington County Community College ranked #11 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of the top 100 U. S. community colleges. College Atlas.org named WCCC one of the top 25 community colleges in 2012. The Aspen Institute listed Washington County Community College among the top 10% of community colleges in 2011 and 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 47. Northland Community & Technical College (MN)

Northland Community & Technical College, established in 1949, has four campuses: East Grand Forks Campus, Thief River Falls Campus, Aerospace Campus and Roseau Satellite Campus. The school is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The school offers a liberal arts program for students interested in obtaining a bachelor’s degree at a four-year school. Northland Community & Technical College also provides a wide array of technical programs. The college provides over 100 career programs and degree options.

Northland Community & Technical College offers online programs in the areas of Business and Entrepreneurship; Health and Human Services; Law, Public Safety and Security; Liberal Arts/Sciences; and Science and Technology.

Northland Community and Technical College provides Associate in Applied Science degrees, Associate in Science degrees, Associate in Art degrees as well as diplomas and certificates. The school also provides a wide array of customized training to help prepare students for their selected career field.

Northland Community & Technical College’s largest programs include practical nursing; liberal arts; sales, marketing and management; aviation maintenance technology; associate degree mobility nursing; criminal justice and law enforcement.

Northland Community & Technical College provides a wide array of clubs, activities and cultural events.

The Aspen Institute listed Northland Community & Technical College among the top 10% of all U.S. community colleges in 2013.

Best Community Colleges: 48. Coastal Carolina Community College (NC)

Coastal Carolina Community College, a two-year institution, is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Coastal Carolina Community College is one of the 58 public community colleges in North Carolina and serves Onslow County, which hosts two of the most strategic bases of the US Marine Corps.

Coastal students consistently meet or exceed all of the annual performance measures in the North Carolina Community College System more often than any other college.

Coastal Carolina Community College offers associate degrees in the arts (A.A.), science (A.S.), and fine arts (A.F.A.) for students seeking to transfer to a four-year college or university.

AFA programs of study include Drama, Music and Music Education, and Art.

A.S. programs include Biology Education, Biology and Engineering.

Examples of A.A. programs are Art Education; Economics, Finance and Marketing; Communication/Communication Studies; Elementary Education; English Education; Geography; Information Systems; Middle Grades Education; Physical Education; Political Science; Social Science Secondary Education; and Sociology.

Coastal Carolina Community College’s 64/65 credits of coursework are designed to parallel freshman and sophomore years at four-year colleges and universities.

Coastal and University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) have an articulation agreement guaranteeing Coastal Carolina Community College’s two-year degree graduates who maintain at least a “B” average begin as juniors at UNCW. Additionally, Coastal, UNCW, Onslow County Schools, and Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune have developed a partnership to offer “2+2” teacher training for elementary education.

Forty to fifty percent of Coastal Carolina Community College students are active duty military and their family members. The college offers eight-week semester courses on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and on Marine Corps Air Station New River to accommodate the military work schedule.

The school’s Division of Continuing Education serves more military personnel than any of the other fifty-seven community colleges in the state. The school’s Customized Training Program provides education and training opportunities for local businesses and industries. Coastal Carolina Community College’s Continuing Education Program focuses on licensure & certification courses for a wide variety of professional and technical careers.

The community college is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). Coastal Carolina Community College ranked #46 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012

Best Community Colleges: 49. Normandale Community College (MN)

Normandale Community College, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, serves the communities of the southwestern portion of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region and it’s a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.

Normandale Community College has an annual enrollment of 10,000 students and the student population is very diverse – 30% and growing. Some of the programs of study offered include dental hygiene, nursing, hospitality management, dietetics, and engineering foundations.

Normandale confers various certificates for 9-30 credits as well as multiple two-year degrees: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), Associate in Science (AS), and Associate in Applied Science (AAS).

Examples of degree programs of study include Dental Hygiene, Hospitality, Creative Writing, Special Education, Theatre, Anthropology and World Languages.

In collaboration with Education for Global Learning (EGL), Normandale Community College also has a short-term and semester Study Abroad program.

The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) is a series of 40 course credits transferable to all secondary education institutions in Minnesota. Further, Minnesota Transfer has established articulation agreements with many non-Minnesota colleges and institutions.

The campus features a two-acre Japanese Garden, the Academic Partnership Center and the Fine Arts building. Annually, the college presents various student recitals, band and choral concerts, art exhibits and other public events.

Normandale’s Continuing Education program offers a full set of courses for professional enrichment e.g. New World of Work, Microsoft Office 2010 and personal learning, Foreign Languages, Feng Shui & Sound Therapy. Additionally, Normandale offers organizational training e.g. Agile, ScrumMaster, and Six Sigma training and it also develops specialized courses customized for local business and presented at the college, at the business location or online.

Normandale ranked #48 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

Best Community Colleges: 50. Schoolcraft College (MI)

Schoolcraft College, located in Livonia, Michigan, has a satellite campus in Garden City, Michigan. Schoolcraft College celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.

Enrollment annually averages 30,000 students. The college awards certificates, associate degrees and post-associate certificates.

Examples of degree-oriented academic programs include Liberal Arts, Health, Fine Arts, Anthropology and Education.

Examples of certificate programs include Fire Technology, Baking & Pastry Arts, Computer Graphics- 3D Animation, and Sound Recording Technology.

Schoolcraft College, well known for its culinary arts program, is headed by four certified master chefs. It has the highest chef/student ratio of any culinary program in the U.S. The college operates three dining venues as part of its culinary arts program.

The Transition Center supports students and is home to the Women’s Resource Center, Adult Student Services, Family Resources and Student Engagement Programs.

The Biomedical Technology Center focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and genetics, robotics, information systems and nanotechnology (GRIN).

The 11,000 sq. ft. Schoolcraft Fitness Center, with its state-of-the-art strength, cardio, free weight and stretch equipment is free to credit students and available for membership for non-credit students, faculty, community members and alumni.

The college’s Public Safety Training Complex, opened in 2010, houses its public safety programs such as Criminal Justice, Fire Technology, Correctional Science, Homeland Security, Police/Fire/Academies and Public Safety in-Service.

Schoolcraft College has a strong student activity presence. The MacGuffin, is a national literary magazine published from Schoolcraft College and The Schoolcraft Connection, the school’s award winning student newspaper continues to garner journalistic praise.

In 2009, the Women’s Basketball team won their second NJCAA Region 12 District H Title.

To serve local families, the school’s “Kids on Campus” program offers classes for children over the weekends during the fall, winter, and spring semesters.

To serve local businesses and industry, the college’s Business Development Center includes the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC), the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and Workforce Training Solutions.

The college is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).

Schoolcraft College ranked #49 in the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.

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Based on their proven levels of excellence, all of these community colleges have earned the privilege of your consideration.

Still not sure which one to pick? Here are five tips for choosing the best community college for you:

1. Does the community college have an honors program? What are the academic requirements? Would you qualify? Getting accepted into the honors programs at a community college will afford you additional opportunities and increase your chances for successful graduation and transfer.

2. Do you plan to transfer to a four-year college or university? If so, call a few of the places you hope to attend and find out how they perceive the community colleges on your list and which colleges accept the most transfers from those community colleges. Ask about any guaranteed transfers and “articulation agreements” that may be in place.

3. Inquire about the specific academic program you are interested in and compare the completion rates of that program to the overall rates of the college. If there is a notable gap between the two rates, ask why.

4. For optimal learning, do you prefer a small campus with special counseling/coaching or a larger campus with an expansive array of course options and educational opportunities? If needed, ask about remedial courses and other support resources. Compare the colleges on your short list to your personal needs.

5. Research and compare the stats on the schools you are most interested in: the college’s graduation rate, transfer rate, “success” rankings based on various surveys.

The rankings below have been compiled on the basis of a number of factors. In terms of academic excellence, the schools on the following list maintain a superior level of instruction, quality relationships with top-tier colleges, and additional academic awards and honors. The majority of students who attend these day schools attend Ivy League universities or the colleges just underneath the Ivies in college ranking materials.

Because diversity of the student body is integral to preparing students for living and working in a connected, global society, we factor this into our criteria for the rankings. The diversity of a student population, as well as opportunities to connect to the world, are telling factors of a school’s commitment to preparing its students for the world outside of the school environment.

The third aspect assessed for this listing consists of intangible factors, such as innovative degree programs in the arts, current student satisfaction with their high school, quality and experience of the faculty, or modern lab or athletic facilities. Also, we have striven for as much geographical diversity as is consistent with our other criteria.

Note about boarding schools: Schools that receive day students along with boarding students will be included in a follow-up article on boarding schools. This article focuses on private high schools that do not provide boarding facilities.

Note about tuition: The tuition price comes from the most current figure posted on the school’s websites. Most of the numbers listed are exclusive of textbooks, lunches, and other fees.

Note about alumni/alumnae: In some cases, notable persons who attended a school, but did not graduate, are also listed.

* * *

1. Trinity School (New York, NY)

Trinity School, founded in 1709, is an independent, co-ed school located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Trinity consistently ranks as the foremost private day school in the country, and for good reasons: over 80% of its faculty holds an advanced degree and the school funnels out students to the best colleges in the nation.

In addition to housing a full Classics department, Trinity also offers a huge array of special programs to ensure that students develop their interests outside the classroom.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Consistently ranked in the top ten of the Wall Street Journal’s Best High Schools Awards
• Named #1 school in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Alumni include tennis star John McEnroe, fashion consultant Stacy London, actors Humphrey Bogart and Larry Hagman, singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, novelists Truman Capote and Colson Whitehead, and filmmaker Oliver Stone
• Tuition: $39,125, grades 9–11; $39,625, grade 12

2. Roxbury Latin School (Boston, MA)

Located in southwest Boston, the all-men Roxbury Latin School is known for turning out National Merit Scholars, as well as Ivy-bound students.

Founded in 1645, Roxbury Latin is one the oldest, operating private schools in the country. Its rankings speak to its rigorous academic preparation and excellent faculty.

For a small school, the musical groups on campus are impressive: a glee club, an a capella group, a junior chorus, a jazz band, and various chamber ensembles are available for student participation.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #5 prep school by Forbes Magazine
• The top SAT average of any school in the country, according to Peterson’s Private Secondary Schools
• The highest matriculation rate to all 8 Ivies plus Stanford and MIT, according to a study by PrepReview.com
• Alumni include landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, experimental psychologist E.L. Thorndike, educator James B. Conant, and anthropologist Jared Diamond
• Tuition: $24,300

3. Brearley School (New York, NY)

The Brearley School, an all-women’s, non-denominational school located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side,  is a champion of diversity.  Forty-four percent of the student body is comprised of students of color.

Brearley’s emphasis on academics is witnessed by its high Ivy League/MIT/Stanford placement rate of 37%.

The school encourages its students to take advantage of its many study abroad and exchange programs, which include countries like India, China, and Vietnam, as well as the more traditional European study abroad destinations.

The school also has a thriving arts program.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #1 all-women’s school by Forbes Magazine
• Alumnae include anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson, novelists Anne and Katie Roiphe, actresses Jill Clayburgh, Sigourney Weaver, and Kyra Sedgwick, and philanthropist Caroline Kennedy
• Tuition: $36,800

4. Horace Mann School (New York, NY)

In the Riverdale section of the Bronx, one will discover the 18-acre campus of the Horace Mann School, which is recognized as one of the top feeder schools to the Ivies.

Horace Mann seeks to educate the whole person inside and outside of the classroom: In addition to offering an assortment of co-curricular activities, students are required to pass a swim test, learn CPR, and complete community service hours as part of their graduation requirements.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #2 school in the U.S. by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Ranked #4 by the Wall Street Journal
• Most of its 21 student publications have earned recognition from the CSPA (Columbia Scholastic Press Association) and ASPA (Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors)
• Alumni include composer Elliott Carter, poet William Carlos Williams, novelist James Salter, philosopher John Searle, economist Robert Heilbroner, Pultizer Prize–winning author Robert Caro, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, and jazz pianist Peter Cincotti
• Tuition: $39, 100

5. Winsor School (Boston, MA)

The Winsor School, founded in 1886, is one of the top all-women’s prep schools in the country. Its academic excellence is evidenced by its high average combined SAT score of 2100 and its Ivy League/MIT/Stanford matriculation rate of 35%.

Winsor enrolls approximately 430 students from diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. For further enrichment, the school offers off-campus programs, exchanges to China and France, and semesters at the Mountain School in Vermont.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #10 on Forbes Magazine best prep list
• Alumnae include figure skater Tenley Albright and Harvard Law School Professor Martha Field
• Tuition: $37,100

6. College Preparatory School (Oakland, CA)

College Prep of Oakland, a co-educational, private school, is one of the most selective private day schools in the country, with a population of only 320 students.

The highly-selective admissions process guarantees a high-caliber student upon entrance, which typically results in these students’ becoming freshmen at the nation’s top colleges—22 students from College Prep have become Stanford students upon graduation during the last five years alone.

Students participate in Intraterm each year, a specialized program for enrichment the week before spring break.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 59% of the class of 2013 were recognized as either National Merit Semi-Finalists or Commended
• Ranked #17 private school in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Alumni include filmmaker Miranda July, Deputy U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Marchick, and Cher Wang, co-founder of smartphone manufacturer HTC
• Tuition: $35,410

7. Collegiate School (New York, NY)

Collegiate School, an all-men’s private school located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, traces back its history to 1628, making it one of the oldest schools in the U.S.

In addition to boasting a stellar average combined SAT score (2195) and Ivy League/MIT/Stanford acceptance rate (41%), Collegiate is distinguished by having the best soccer team in the state among private schools.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the school’s prime New York City location by enrolling in CITYterm, which uses the Manhattan cityscape as its classroom.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Named it the #1 school in the world for getting into the Ivies by the Wall Street Journal 
• Ranked #7 prep school in the country by Forbes Magazine
• Alumni include film directors Peter Bogdanovich and Whit Stillman, actor David Duchovny, and John F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the former president
• Tuition: $39,400

8. Spence School (New York, NY)

An all-women’s school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Spence School offers a global learning community within its campus.

Over 33% of the student body consists of students of color, and the curriculum at Spence is designed so that a student can identify herself and sees her culture and heritage reflected in her studies. The English Department hosts an array of classes focusing on literature from specific regions around the world.

Upper School students can choose from among 40 clubs and activities.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #9 by Forbes in the best prep schools list
• Alumnae include philanthropist Helen Cray Frick, author Francine du Plessix Gray, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow
• Tuition: $39,200

 9. Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, CA)

Harvard-Westlake (H-W) is a private, co-ed school that spans two campuses on the west side of Los Angeles, between Bel Air and Beverly Hills.

A distinguishing feature of the school is its focus on character education and ethical leadership, which is built into the curriculum.

H-W allows for directed study and independent study. Travel is encouraged, both abroad or domestically (at the Mountain School or the High Mountain Institute).

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Over 1/3 of students in the class of 2011 received National Merit Recognition
• Ranked as one of America’s best prep schools from prepreview.com in 2008
• Ranked as #12 on the Forbes Best Schools list for 2010
• Alumni include actors Myrna Loy, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Shirley Temple, Candice Bergen, Elizabeth Montgomery, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as film director Jason Reitman and astronaut Sally Ride
• Tuition: $31, 350

10. Dalton School (New York, NY)

The Dalton school, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is the home of the Dalton Plan, an educational model adopted by schools globally. The plan comprises three parts (Home, Assignment, and Lab), as well as programs designed to meet a student’s individual needs.

Seniors stay busy at Dalton: On top of the senior initiative and project, the school mandates an internship program in the senior year to give students hands-on experience for post-grad life.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #13 on the Forbes Best Prep Schools list
• Alumni include actors Chevy Chase and Claire Danes, author Frances Fitzgerald, science fiction writer Samuel R. Delany, journalists Eric Schlosser and Matt Yglesias, and TV personalities Anderson Cooper and Andrew Zimmern
• Tuition: $40,220

11. Chapin School (New York, NY)

The Chapin School is an all-women’s school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. All students attend school under one roof to maintain a sense of continuity and community.

Chapin has an extensive network of partnerships for students to complete summer internships, including a partnership with the Foreign Policy Association.

Students may also enroll in an elective service-learning course that is designed to incorporate meaningful community service into teaching and learning about civic responsibility and social issues.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #3 in college placement by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumnae include author Anne Morrow Lindbergh, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, actresses Stockard Channing and  Sigourney Weaver, and fashion designers Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Wang
• Tuition: $36,500

12. Princeton Day School (Princeton, NJ)

Princeton Day School (PDS) is a private, co-educational day school.

PDS is naturally a feeder school for nearby Princeton University; however, many graduates go on to attend other top-ranked colleges such as NYU, Cornell, Tufts, and Georgetown.

Not only does PDS more than adequately prepare students for the best colleges in the country, it incorporates a number of special programs to nurture the student as a complete individual. There is a two-day celebration of creativity featuring guest artists and a five-week seminar for seniors, “A Life That Works,” which gathers seniors to investigate spiritual and practical dimensions of life relevant to shaping their futures.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• A third of the 2011 graduating class were honored as National Merit Semi-Finalists or Commended Scholars
• Alumni include actor Christopher Reeve, singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, and rock musician Trey Anastasio
• Tuition: $30,230

13. Saint Ann’s School (New York, NY)

Saint Ann’s School is a non-sectarian, co-educational, private day school located in the Brooklyn Heights section of New York City.

There are a couple of keys that separate Saint Ann’s school from the other schools on this list.

First, the school doesn’t have a grading system and prefers to have its teachers prepare full-page reports on each student to give what they deem a more accurate reflection of the learning that took place.

A spotlight on the arts is another feature unique to Saint Ann’s, in that the school considers the arts to be central elements to a student’s education.

Juniors and seniors help design their own curriculum.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Named one of the top 50 high schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include actresses Jennifer Connelly and Lena Dunham, and rap musician Mike D (Mike Diamond)
• Tuition: grades 9–11, $32, 400; grade 12, $33,100

14. Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA)

Germantown Friends School is a co-educational, private day school located in Philly’s historic Germantown neighborhood. The school maintains has its roots in, and maintains strong connections with, the Society of Friends.

Germantown Friends is known for its strong academic preparation: 10–20% of graduates enroll at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.

The school keeps it values close in mind both inside and outside of the classroom, making for a rich education in the development of the individual students.

In keeping with its spiritual values, Germantown Friends does not calculate GPA for class rank and does not have a Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Instead, graduating classes elect a faculty member and a classmate to deliver ceremonial speeches.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include Nobel Prize-winning physicists Owen Chamberlain and Saul Perlmutter, television producer Kara Vallow, and music producer and author Sandra Boynton
• Tuition: $29,795

15. National Cathedral School (Washington, DC)

The National Cathedral School (NCS)  is a private, all-women’s Episcopal day school in the McLean Gardens neighborhood of our nation’s capital.

NCS was built before the National Cathedral itself, and maintains its heritage through weekly chapel services by school division and ecumenical, thematic Friday services.

Thirty-five percent of the student body is made up of students of color.

Athletic participation, which includes dance and yoga classes as well as outdoor recreation, is mandatory for all students.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumnae include American U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and U.S. Congresswoman Beverly Byron
• Tuition: $35,120

16. University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Chicago, IL)

The Lab School (as it is universally known), which is located on the campus of the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the city, is a private, co-educational day school that takes pride in its diverse campus culture.

The school was founded in 1896 by Professor John Dewey, one of the foremost philosophers, educators, and public intellectuals in America’s history.

Students learn about cultural, communicative ethics, and civility education, and participate in an outstanding World Languages program.

Students at the Lab School are known for their excellence in scholastic journalism, as well.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #4 in the nation for its record of sending graduates to elite colleges and universities
• Alumni include U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, composer Ned Rorem, historian William McNeill, philosopher Leon Kass, biologist Lynn Margulis, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
• Tuition: $28,290

17. Collegiate School (Richmond, VA)

Collegiate School, which is located in Virginia’s state capital (and should not be confused with the New York City school of the same name), is a private, co-educational day school committed to academic and personal excellence.

All students participate in community service projects; seniors complete short internships prior to graduation as a graduation requirement. To prepare students for the world beyond academia, Collegiate weaves both economics education and global education into its entire curriculum.

Recently, Collegiate initiated a Global Education Mission, creating partnerships with schools in China, India, Mexico, and Spain, and expanded its oral proficiency requirements for foreign language study. It is also home to the International Emerging Leaders Conference.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The class of 2012 produced three National Merit Semi-finalists, one Achievement Semi-Finalist, and 14 Commended Scholars
• Alumni include U.S. Representative and current House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, film producer Michael Gottwald, TV writer Mike Henry, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
• Tuition: $21,520

18. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (Ridgeland, MS)

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, which is located just north of Jackson, Mississippi (and should not be confused with several other schools of the same name in other states), is an independent, co-ed, college prep school for students in grades pre-K through 12.

St. Andrew’s consistently leads the state in the percentage of National Merit Semi-finalists.   In addition to a fine academic tradition, St. Andrew’s students grow as individuals in a variety of ways, one of which is that they complete an astounding 100 hours of community service projects before graduation. The school has established a focus on global studies through the St. Andrew’s International Society, the Global Speakers program, and by providing exchange programs with schools in Japan, China, Mexico, Ghana, Scotland, Spain, France, and India.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The Class of 2011 included 12 National Merit Finalists, three National Achievement Finalists, and five Commended Students
• The Class of 2010 included 18 National Merit Finalists (more than any other school in the state), three National Achievement Finalists, and two Commendations
• St. Andrew’s has produced four Presidential Scholars in the last four years
• Thirty-five of 39 of Mississippi’s AP State Scholars have been St. Andrew’s students
• Tuition: $14,605

19. Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ)

Delbarton is a Catholic, all-men’s school located just west of Newark, New Jersey.

In addition to its commitment to academic excellence, Delbarton promotes the values of cooperative living in a global society.

Through its study abroad programs, notable international guest speakers, and an award-winning Model U.N., students gain significant insight into the outside world.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #9 among the nation’s schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include playwright Christopher Durang, actor Peter Dinklage, computer scientist Robert Tappan Morris, and Wall Street trader/martial arts fighter John Cholish
• Tuition: $30,200

20. Commonwealth School (Boston, MA)

Located in Boston’s Back Bay East neighborhood, Commonwealth is a private, co-ed day school with a prestigious academic standing. Historically, two-thirds of each graduating class is recognized by the National Merit Scholar program.

The school views community service as an integral part of developing the whole person; therefore, students are required to complete 70 hours of service by the beginning of their junior years.

Additionally, the school mandates that students participate in the on-campus Jobs Program, in which students sign up to complete a variety of practical, common tasks on a regular basis.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Three members of the Class of 2012 were Presidential Scholar Semi-finalists
• Physics department named best in the country by the College Board in 2004
• Ranked best private high school by Boston Magazine in 2009
• Alumni include historian Daniel Pipes, diplomat Peter Galbraith, film directors Kasi Lemmons and Jesse Peretz, actor Hamish Linklater, and model Cameron Russell
• Tuition: $34,704

21. Lakeside School (Seattle, WA)

A private school in the north part of Seattle, the Lakeside School presents an intense academic program that exceeds the rigor of AP classes; thus, AP classes are not offered.

Lakeside has one of the most diverse student populations, with over half of the student body comprised of students of color.

The history of engaging students in global affairs dates back to the famous 1984 chess match against Moscow School students. Today, the school’s Global Service Learning Program “aims at helping students gain a broader view of the world while helping the underprivileged around the world.”

Students also have numerous opportunities for study abroad, both domestically and internationally.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The class of 2012 produced 31 National Merit Semifinalists, 40 National Merit Commended, four National Achievement Scholar Award winners, and three National Hispanic Recognition Award winners
• Alumni include Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and TV actor Adam West
• Tuition: $27,250

22. Regis High School (New York, NY)

An all-men’s, Catholic day school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Regis High School has a rigorous set of criteria for acceptance, and is widely regarded as a feeder school to the Ivies and other top U.S. colleges and universities.

Run by the Jesuit order, Regis combines a commitment to academic excellence with a focus on religiously guided values.

Annual class enrollment is limited to approximately 135 male students from the NY/NJ/CT  tri-state area. All students receive a tuition-free education.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include immunologist Anthony Fauci, writer and critic Luc Sante, book publisher and editor Robert Giroux, journalists Pete Hamill and Mark Mazzetti, and author Edward Conlon
• Tuition: $0

23. Rye Country Day School (Rye, NY)

Rye Country Day School, which was founded in 1869, is a co-ed day school in a town on Long Island Sound, north of New Rochelle on Connecticut border.

While Rye Country Day has a consistent rate of students who matriculate into top-tier schools, it also maintains a deep commitment to community service.

Diversity also plays a prominent role on campus: Out of the many co-curricular clubs and activities Rye offers, nine are student clubs that promote diversity on the campus.

The school requires a Senior Term mandatory graduation project. .

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #21 on a list of top schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Edward Albee, first lady Barbara Bush, and TV actor Nick Kroll
• Tuition: $34,600

24. Crystal Springs Uplands School (Hillsborough, CA)

Crystal Springs Uplands School, is an independent, co-ed private school located south of San Francisco, near San Mateo.

The school was among the first private schools to wave goodbye to the College Board’s AP courses. This was done so that teachers could design even more challenging coursework and students could initiate projects, internships, investigative research, and global experiences. However, students may elect to take the AP exams.

In terms of diversity, over 50% of the student population are students of color.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include heiress Patty Hearst, hip hop music producer Charlie Kubal, and TV actress Polly Draper
• Tuition: $35,700

25. Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Cambridge, MA)

The Buckingham School (1889) and Browne & Nichols School (1883) merged in 1974, creating a dynamic co-educational institution (BB&N). The three separate campuses are located within a few miles of each other in the western part of Cambridge, between the Charles River and historic Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

BB&N’s excellent academics prepares students for acceptance and success at the nation’s top colleges. Participation in sports is mandatory for all students.

BB&N students produce several publications, which have received national recognition.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 27 Presidential Scholars from Massachusetts
• Ranked #5 top private school in the Boston area by Boston Magazine in 2009
• Ranked among the top 50 schools in the world for university preparation by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include actor Anthony Perkins, Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson, NPR radio broadcaster Sylvia Poggioli, U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy, III, billionaire businesswoman Abigail Johnson, and Netflix founder Reed Hastings
• Tuition: $38,030

26. St. Mark’s School of Texas (Dallas, TX)

St. Mark’s School of Texas is a nonsectarian, all-men’s day school located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of north Dallas. The school’s academic performance record shines in the light of its many graduates who attend the nation’s best colleges.

St. Mark’s makes concerted efforts towards environmental sustainability, for which the school has received accolades.

Outdoor education is an integral part of the St. Mark’s experience and is required of all students.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 22 National Merit Scholars in the Class of 2011
• 35 Commended Scholars from the National Merit Program in the Class of 2011
• Seven Presidential Scholars since 2003
• Alumni include National Lampoon co-founder Robert Hoffman, singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs,and actors Tommy Lee Jones and Luke and Owen Wilson
• Tuition: $25,258–$26,914, depending on the grade level

27. San Francisco University High School (San Francisco, CA)

San Francisco University High School (popularly known as “University”) opened in 1975 as a co-ed private school in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of the city.

Independent learning and self-directed projects are a valuable and unique asset to the excellent curriculum the school offers.

At University, community service learning requirements are mandatory. Over 40% of the student body is composed of students of color.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #21 best high school based on university preparedness by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Ranked #8 best high school in the country for matriculation rate and success at top colleges and universities by the Washington Post in 2013
• Alumni include writer Ethan Canin, filmmaker and actor Ari Gold, National League pitcher Tyler Walker, and actor John Morris
• Tuition: $35,440

28. Marlborough School (Los Angeles, CA)

Founded in 1889, Marlborough School is a private, all-women’s day school located in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Central L.A. It is the oldest school for women in Southern California.

Marlborough hosts a premiere Visiting Scholars program. While Marlborough does not require community service from its students, it is a valued, encouraged, and integral part of daily student life.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Science program has received national recognition
• Honors research program was featured in a 2005 New York Times article
• Alumnae include novelist Nell Freudenberger, author Anne Fadiman, actress and playwright Zoe Kazan, and MSNBC anchor Alex Wit
• Tuition: $28,950

29. Riverdale Country School (New York, NY)

Home to the largest campus in the New York City area, Riverdale Country School is a co-ed, private school located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

The school has decided to forgo AP course offerings so that more challenging and innovative classes would be available to students.

Additionally, all students are required to have three arts credits towards graduation—a nod to the emphasis on a strong and thriving arts program.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include U.S. Senator Edward M.Kennedy, singer-songwriter Carly Simon, science writer James Gleick, NFL running back Calvin Hill, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, restaurant critic Tim Zagat, and actors Cesar Romero, Chevy Chase, and Sarah Michelle Gellar
• Tuition: $35,500

30. Latin School of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Latin School of Chicago (known locally as “Latin”), founded in 1888, is a private, coeducational college preparatory school located in the city’s affluent Gold Coast neighborhood. It is the oldest independent day school in the city of Chicago.

Latin School’s mission is to provide students with an academically rigorous and innovative educational program in a community that embraces diversity of people, cultures, and ideas. Latin’s aim is “to inspire its students to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.”

Latin offers many innovative electives in every subject area, in addition to the core requirements. Many classes have a real-life-experience component, which helps to bring the material to life, including mock trials, hands-on labs, and a Model U.N. simulation.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include sculptor Claes Oldenburg, singer-songwriter Roger McGuinn, actor and producer Bob Balaban, first lady Nancy Reagan, U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson, III, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, II
• Tuition: $28,985

31. Ethical Culture Fieldston School (New York, NY)

Ethical Culture Fieldston School (popularly known as “Fieldston”) was founded in 1878 with the goal of educating New York City’s working class children.

Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Fieldston is sponsored by the secular humanist Society for Ethical Culture. True to its heritage in the Progressive Era movement, Fieldston mandates courses in ethics and philosophy, as well as a minimum of 60 documented hours of community service.

The school no longer offers AP coursework, in an effort to go above and beyond teaching-to-the-test, and chooses to implement more innovative and challenging classes instead.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, AI pioneer Marvin Minsky, critics Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, David Denby, and Andrew Delbanco, photographer Diane Arbus, poets Howard Nemerov and Muriel Rukeyser,  conductor Alan Gilbert,  composer Stephen Sondheim, film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, fim directors James Toback and Sophia Coppola, and TV broadcaster Barbara Walters
• $39,525

32. Potomac School (McLean, VA)

Just outside of Washington, D.C., lies the 90-acre campus of the Potomac School.

This private, co-educational school presents students with the opportunity to complete a concentration in Visual and Performing Arts in music, theater, or visual arts.

Character development and community service are integral parts of the standard curriculum, as well.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include actresses Frances Sternhagen and Keshia Knight Pulliam, documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, and music critic Alex Ross
• Tuition: $33,345

33. Branson School (Ross, CA)

Branson School, which is located near San Rafael in Marin County, 11 miles north of San Francisco, was founded in 1920. Today, Branson is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory day school with only 320 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.

Through the vitality, breadth, and rigor of its programs, Branson encourages students to think critically, communicate clearly, develop their individual talents and interests, and pursue a lifelong passion for learning. Foreign language requirements are rigorous, with three years in one language, and two years each of two different languages required.

Community service is also a priority: Freshmen must complete five Core and 10 Support hours, and sophomores, juniors, and seniors must complete 15 Core and 10 Support hours each year (where Core hours = hours spent working directly with people in need, and Support hours = hours spent indirectly helping those in need).

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Student/faculty ratio 8-to-1
• Average class size 13
• Alumni include author and TV personality Julia Child, Olympic skiier Jonny Moseley, and documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel
• Tuition: $35,000

34. Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT)

Brunswick School is an all-men’s, college preparatory, private day school located just over the NY/CT state line.

Brunswick has a high matriculation rate to the country’s most competitive colleges. However, competition does not end at the classroom doors: Participation in sports is required of all students.

Brunswick students have unique study abroad opportunities, including an Arabic year abroad, and a choice of six single-semester programs, notably in the Bahamas and in Switzerland.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include Peter Fonda, sports columnist Bill Simmons, and social networking pioneers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
• Tuition: $35,700

35. Maret School (Washington, DC)

Maret School, founded in 1911, is a private school on a single campus in the Woodley Park neighborhood of our nation’s capital.

Over 40% of Maret students identify themselves as students of color.

Foreign language instruction is a focus of the curriculum, and students have the opportunity to travel to Honduras, India, and France for summer course credits.

Each student is expected to take visual and performing arts classes, as well.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include film composer Theodore Shapiro, and educator and author Rosalind Wiseman
• Tuition: $32,745

36. Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr, PA)

Baldwin School, an all-women’s, private day school located west of Philadelphia on that city’s historic “Main Line.” The school’s main building is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Baldwin no longer offers AP coursework and chooses instead to present an even more rigorous curriculum to students. Baldwin students care deeply about environmental sustainability, the arts, athletics, and diversity. Over 35% of students are persons of color.

Baldwin requires its students to participate in athletics or physical education.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The Class of 2011 had 18 students recognized by the National Merit Scholar program
• The same class boasted a recipient of the annual National Latin Exam Scholarship
• Alumnae include actress Cornelia Otis Skinner, writer Andrea Lee, and philosopher Martha Craven Nussbaum
• Tuition: $28,000

37. Haverford School (Haverford, PA)

Haverford School is an all-men’s, nonsectarian, private college preparatory day school located nine miles outside of Philadelphia on that city’s historic “Main Line.” Its reputation as a pillar of academic excellence is long-standing and graduates gain admission into America’s top colleges year after year.

Haverford incorporates the idea of service learning into its curriculum; each student needs to complete an entire service project each school year.

The school emphasizes environmental sustainability on campus and within the Montgomery County community.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Six Rhodes Scholars
• National Merit Scholarship Competition, Classes 2008–12: 46 Commended; 37 Semifinalists, 31 Finalists
• Alumni include painter Maxfield Parrish, physicist Britton Chance, astronaut Pete Conrad, political scientist John DiIulio, and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
• Tuition: $34,800

38. Nightingale-Bamford School (New York, NY)

Nightingale-Bamford School is an all-women’s day school located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Diversity plays an important role on and off campus: More than 30% of the student population is made up of students of color and students are encouraged to go on the various study abroad trips that span the globe.

Curricular enrichment includes a freshman class trip to the U.K., specialized programs in science, creative writing, visual education, and theater, taking full advantage of the school’s prime New York City location.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Three Semi-finalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program in 2008
• Ranked in the top 80 of 31,700 schools nationwide for placing students in the Ivies, according to Worth magazine
• Alumnae include U.S. Representative Millicent Fenwick, political consultant Mandy Grunwald, actress Sarah Thomson, and children’s author Cecily von Ziegesar
• Tuition: $38,820

39. Hopkins School (New Haven, CT)

Hopkins is a private, co-ed, college prep day school located across town from Yale University. Founded in 1660, it is one of the oldest schools in the nation.

Hopkins boasts both academic and artistic excellence through its wide assortment of course offerings and co-curricular programs in the arts.

Students are introduced to the concept of ethical leadership early on in their Hopkins careers.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #19 on the top 20 best prep schools list by Forbes
• Alumni include physicist Josiah Willard Gibbs and composer Charles Ives
• Tuition: $32,100

40. Boston University Academy (Boston, MA)

Boston University Academy (BUA), founded in 1993, is a private, co-ed high school operated by Boston University (BU) and located on its campus. BUA allows juniors and senior students to take BU classes for college credits.

BUA does not focus on teaching-to-the-test or college admission. Rather, the school provides ample opportunities for students to be exposed to the western tradition of critical thinking, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The Class of 2012 had 39 members qualify for National Merit Commendations
• Numerous student activities include art, drama, dance, film, math, chess, and robotics clubs
• Tuition: $33,574

41. St. John’s School (Houston, TX)

St. John’s School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school located in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood.

The school’s mission is to create excellent citizens and leaders, particularly for the Houston area and for the U.S. in general. One hundred percent of students participate in community service, although the school does not require it.

Students are encouraged to complete both independent and directed study projects.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Featured in the Wall Street Journal’s November 2007 article, “How to Get Into Harvard”
• Nine percent of graduates in 2007 went to one of the most eight highly selective colleges
• Alumni include humorist Molly Ivins and publisher and film producer Christy Haubegger
• Tuition: $21,550

42. Pingry School (Martinsville, NJ)

The Pingry School is a private country day school located not far west of New York City, just north of New Brunswick.

Pingry is home not only to an excellent academic reputation, but also to championship athletic teams and a strong tradition in scholastic press.

Approximately 86% of Upper School students participate in a variety of sports on 55 varsity and junior varsity boys and girls teams.

A multicultural curriculum and cultural competency are valuable part of campus life.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include World War II correspondent and author Richard Tregaskis, physicists Howard Georgi and James A. Yorke, economist N. Gregory Mankiw, filmmaker Todd Solondz, actor Andrew McCarthy, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
• Tuition: $33,040

43. North Shore Country Day School (Winnetka, IL)

North Shore Country Day School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school, which was founded in 1919 and is located near Lake Michigan just north of Chicago.

Through a range of experiences in and out of the classroom, North Shore students are immersed in science, mathematics, humanities, language, and the arts. The school’s broad and ever-evolving curriculum challenges and engages students to strive for personal growth and academic excellence.

North Shore also prides itself on the fact that each student is a part of a community “where each has a voice, is known and is valued.” In addition, “Teachers use global connections to tie learning to real life applications. And students receive a well-rounded education including participation in the arts, athletics and service.”

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include actress Jessica Harper and pop music singer Richard Marx
• Tuition: $26,800

44. Sidwell Friends School (Washington, DC, & Bethesda, MD)

Sidwell Friends School is a private, co-ed day school founded in 1883 by Thomas Sidwell, who had formerly taught in a Baltimore school run by the Society of Friends. Sidwell Friends now has two campuses, in Washington, D.C., and in Bethesda, Maryland.

Guided by its Quaker values, students commit to practice environmental stewardship and to appreciate the differences in one another; there is no class ranking system.

Sidwelll Friends offers a unique and extensive Chinese Studies program. Graduates matriculate at the nation’s top universities.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Highest scores in the nation on the 2005 AP English exam (even though AP English is not offered as a course)
• Alumni include aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, Nobel Prize–winning chemist Walter Gilbert,  novelist Gore Vidal, Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Margaret Edson, economist George Akerlof, CIA Director John Deutch, TV news anchor Charles Gibson, TV personality Bill Nye, and Presidential daughters Julie and Trisha Nixon, Chelsea Clinton, and Sasha and Malia Obama
• Tuition: $34,268

45. Gilman School (Baltimore, MD)

A private, all-men’s school founded in 1897, the Gilman School has the distinction of being the nation’s first country day school.

Gilman is committed to the development of the individual, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Students are required to take visual and performing arts classes, as well as religion courses. They are also required to participate in athletics and community service projects.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Rated one of the top 30 feeder schools to the Ivies by Worth magazine
• Alumni include author Walter Lord, sportswriter and radio commentator Frank Deford, and U.S. Representative John Sarbanes
• Tuition: $26,180

46. Greenhill School (Addison, TX)

The Greenhill School, a co-ed, non-denominational private day school, lies just outside the city limits on the northwest side of Dallas.

Greenhill offers students the unique chance to shape their own course of study, working with advisers to make class selections pertinent to their needs and interests after the first two years of core study.

The school’s core principles are honor, respect, and compassion, which are instilled in each student, and, “combined with the balanced education, fully prepare them for success throughout their lives.”

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 84 AP Scholars
• Class of 2012 produced 10 National Merit Finalists and 17 Commended Scholars
• Rated as one of the top 40 schools in the nation by the number of matriculants to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, by Worth magazine
• Alumni include singer-songwriters Martie McGuire and Emily Robison, TV sports commentator Rob Stone, and fashion designer Lela Rose
• Tuition: $24,850

47. Tower Hill School (Wilmington, DE)

Founded in 1919 with a commitment to progressive education methods, Tower Hill School is rated one of the best college preparatory schools in Delaware.

Students not only excel academically, but also must play at least 10 seasons of interscholastic sports. They are also asked to complete 40 hours of community service, as well as a full credit of Fine Arts classes drawn from the music, theater, and art departments.

AP courses are not offered; instead, students are presented a more rigorous and challenging curriculum.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #24 in the nation, and #1 in Delaware, in percentage of students attending eight top colleges by the Wall Street Journal
• Alumni include TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz and DuPont CEO Ellen J. Kullman
• Tuition: $26,425

48. John Burroughs School (St. Louis, MO)

John Burroughs School (known as “Burroughs”) is a co-ed, private day school located on the west side of St. Louis. Its rankings and production of Nation Merit–recognized students speak to the school’s high quality of academic instruction.

In addition to excellent academics, Burroughs—which is named after the famed nineteenth-century naturalist and essayist—seeks to enrich the student outside of the classroom. The school has an appointed office of diversity and multicultural education to ensure that awareness and inclusion spans across the curriculum.

Burroughs does not have a community service requirement for its students, yet more than half of the senior class participates in community service.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Class of 2013 includes 30 National Merit Semi-finalists and 16 Letters of Commendation
• Ranked among the nation’s top 50 high schools in sending graduates to eight top universities, by the Wall Street Journal
• Alumni include novelist Jane Smiley and restaurateur Danny Meyer
• Tuition: $22,900

49. Blake School (Minneapolis, MN)

The Blake School is a private, co-educational day school, which was founded in 1900 and is located in the Lowry Hill section of Minneapolis.

Prizing ethics and integrity as well as academic excellence, students are required to take a course in communication before graduating.

Seniors must also complete an approved project as a graduation requirement.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Three-time recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award
• Ranked #41 in the nation by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include writers Robert Pirsig, Charles Baxter, and Arthur Phillips, film director George Roy Hill, and comedian and U.S. Senator Al Franken
• Tuition: $24,450

50. University School Nashville (Nashville, TN)

University School Nashville (USN), founded in 1888, is a private, co-ed day school located near the Vanderbilt University campus. USN offers students two campuses: a main campus for academics and an 80-acre campus for extra-curricular purposes.

USN  has a long-standing commitment to the arts and students enjoy the culture of Nashville.

Belief diversity does not happen in isolation; USN presents a cultural dialogue series to promote multiculturalism on its campus.

Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The class of 2012 produced 12 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 13 National Merit Commended Scholars
• Three Presidential Scholars, 2010–2012
• Alumni include Noble Prize–winning chemist Stanford Moore, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Robert K. Massie, country music singer Shooter Jennings, and NPR radio broadcaster and MacArthur Fellow Jad Abumrad
• Tuition: $19,250

Individuals with a Master of Public Administration degree gain the skill set required to become an effective and highly in-demand leader, with the flexibility to move between government and non-governmental careers. Individuals with a Master of Public Administration degree have opportunities to make an impact on the issues and problems affecting the general public.

According to the notable PublicServiceCareers.org, the MPA degree offers the highest level of education needed for careers in the profession. Earning an MPA degree opens doors to a wide variety of career options—in government, public management, health and human services, and other public or nonprofit organizations.

With many of the 500,000-plus federal employees preparing for retirement, the need for emerging leaders in the public sector will be increasing. The expected job growth of public service career professional is 14% through 2018.

In today’s increasingly global world, institutions of higher learning recognize the need for creating public leaders of today and tomorrow—leaders adequately prepared and astutely skilled to tackle frontiers of public leadership not yet formed. A strong Master of Public Administration degree program advances the development of public leaders.

The online Master of Public Administration programs vary significantly across the colleges and universities providing them. Some of the MPA programs offer a general course of study based on NASPAA (National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration) standards. Others offer specific areas of concentration and/or specialization. Some online MPA programs focus on practical application, others focus on theory, and still other online MPA programs create a balance of the two.

Online Master of Public Administration Degree Program Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online Master of Public Administration programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

1. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)

Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California (USC) enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university.

One of the world’s leading private research universities, USC offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the school has a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education and nurturing a commitment of public service.

Established in 1929, the MPA program at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy is one of the oldest and most recognized programs of its kind in the United States. The online MPA program connects cutting-edge research to the practice of public policy and management. The program strives to prepare leaders for all levels of government, as well as for public service and nonprofits. The MPA program prepares students to create passionate solutions to difficult leadership, financial, human resource, and project/program management problems.

Beyond the core courses, online MPA students may select the Local Government, Nonprofit Management, or Public Management specialization as part of their study.

The Master in Public Administration program at USC has received NASPAA accreditation.

USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy was ranked #6 overall among 262 schools of public affairs, as well as #5 in public management, #4 in city management, and #7 in nonprofit management by U.S. News & World Report, all in 2012. USC was also ranked #24 in the 2013 edition of the Best Colleges in National Universities list by U.S. News & World Report, and was listed in the 2013 edition of Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review.

2. Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

Indiana University-Bloomington (IU), established in 1820, is the flagship campus of Indiana University’s eight institutions. IU’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs is the nation’s largest school of public affairs.

The Master of Public Affairs program prepares students for management and policy roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Students learn to work well with teams of professionals and effectively communicate and work with colleagues.

Some of the areas of concentration are Local Government Management, Public Financial Administration, Nonprofit Management, and Policy Analysis.

The Master of Public Affairs program comprises 48 credit hours. The Master of Public Affairs degree program has received accreditation from NASPAA.

The Master of Public Affairs degree program includes core classes such as:

• Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision-Making
• Public Management Economics
• Public Management
• Public Financing and Budgeting
• Law and Public Affairs
• Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs

IU was ranked #3 in the 2012 Public Management Administration list, and #83 in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities, by U.S. News & World Report. The university is ranked #58 among research universities by Forbes.

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), a public research university situated in North Carolina’s famed Research Triangle, is the core institution of the University of North Carolina and the second largest university in North Carolina.

UNC provides its undergraduates with a liberal arts education. The university offers both online and traditional degree programs and provides over 70 bachelor degrees, 100+ master degrees, and 74 doctoral degrees. UNC has more than 29,000 students.

With courses ranging from management and leadership to public policy analysis and project evaluation, the Master of Public Administration online degree program at UNC trains leaders for local, state, and federal governments and nonprofit organizations.

In January of 2013, UNC began offering its MPA program online. The school’s Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA.

The MPA degree program provided by UNC was ranked #23 nationally out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs  by U.S. News & World Report, in 2012.

4. University of Colorado Denver (Denver, CO)

The University of Colorado Denver (UCD), located in downtown Denver, along with the Anschutz Medical Campus, is part of the University of Colorado’s four-campus system under the direction of The Regents of University of Colorado. The Denver campus, founded in 1912, provides over 130 accredited degree programs.

The online Master of Public Administration program at UCD requires 36 credit hours (or 39 credit hours, if a student does not have work experience in the public or nonprofit arenas). Students complete six core courses, five elective courses, and a capstone course. They must also complete a client-based capstone project or a two-semester thesis.

Students pursuing the MPA degree completely online can complete the general MPA or study concentrations in Nonprofit Management or Homeland Defense.

UCD’s Master of Public Administration degree program received accreditation from NASPAA.

The MPA program at the UCD was ranked #29 out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs nationally by U.S. News & World Report, in 2012. The University of Colorado was also ranked #34 on Forbes Magazine‘s public colleges list.

5. University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha, NE)

The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) was founded in 1908 as a private, coeducational college by the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The institution was established to provide “sound learning and practical education” to anyone seeking higher education. Accessibility is a commitment which continues to be an essential part of the school’s vision for the future.

UNO became part of Nebraska’s higher learning system in 1968, and has become the state’s premier metropolitan research university, offering nationally recognized bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

UNO’s School of Public Administration, College of Public Affairs & Community Service, provides the online Master of Public Administration program. All MPA students are required to take seven core courses. The Capstone Project is the required ending course to complete the MPA degree, unless students select the thesis option.

Students in the online Master of Public Administration program at UNO have five concentration options:

• Aviation Administration
• Local Government
• Nonprofit Management
• Public Management
• Public Works Administration

The online MPA curriculum also allows for one area of specialization: the Criminology and Criminal Justice Specialization.

The Master of Public Administration program at UNO has received accreditation from NASPAA.

UNO’s MPA program was ranked #33 nationally out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs by U.S. News & World Report, in 2012.

6. University of Illinois Springfield (Springfield, IL)

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is located in the Illinois state capital. The university was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly, and became a part of the University of Illinois system in 1995. UIS offers 44 degree-granting programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

The Master of Public Administration online program at UIS covers subjects such as:

• Budget and finance
• Policy analysis
• Organizational behavior
• Quantitative and statistical analysis
• Human resource management
• Program evaluation

The MPA online program emphasizes ethical behavior, as well as an appreciation for the basic values and processes of American democracy.

In addition to the online MPA program, a nonprofit management certificate, a certificate in homeland security, and a joint-degree in MPA/MPH are also available online.

The Master’s of Public Administration program at UIS has received accreditation from NASPAA.

UIS has been ranked the #2 public regional university in the Midwest Region in the 2013 edition of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The school was ranked #4 in the same category for the previous three years: 2010, 2011, and 2012. The MPA program at UIS was also ranked #87  nationally out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs by U.S. News & World Report, in 2012.

7. Villanova University (Villanova, PA)

Villanova is a coeducational, Roman Catholic institution, founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine. The university, located on Philadephia’s famed “main line,” provides a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree via the Villanova School of Business, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the Villanova School of Law.

Villanova’s online Master of Public Administration program features a video-based, e-learning system, which utilizes recognized scholars and practitioners to help students develop their analytical, decision-making, management, and leadership skills, providing them with the knowledge needed to influence organizational change, develop programs, and solve problems.

The online MPA program entails 36 credit earned through 12 classes.

The Master’s of Public Administration program at Villanova has received NASPAA accreditation.

Villanova’s online MPA program was ranked #97 nationally out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs in 2012 by U.S. News & World Report, while the university as a whole is ranked #1 in the 2013 edition of that magazine’s Best Colleges in Regional Universities (North). Villanova is also included in the 2013 edition of Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review.

8. University of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)

The University of Baltimore (UB), founded in 1925, is a public institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional education in downtown Baltimore. In 1988, the university became part of the University System of Maryland.

UB offers numerous undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs and several joint degree programs focusing on business, law, public affairs, and the arts and sciences.

The Master of Public Administration online program at the University of Baltimore, which is presented by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, is a two-year, 42-credit program that can be completed entirely online through the web-MPA program.

Students in the Master of Public Administration program can choose from among four specializations:

• Public Policy and Administration
• Health Care Policy and Administration
• Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
• Public and Nonprofit Management

UB also offers a dual JD/MP degree, in which students obtain both degrees with 18–21 fewer credits than needed to obtain the two degrees independently.

The College of Public Affairs’s Master of Public Administration program has received accreditation from NASPAA.

UB’s College of Public Affairs is ranked #73 nationally in  2013 edition of Best Grad Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

9. University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)

The University of San Francisco (USF), established in 1855 by a small group of Jesuit priests, became the first university in the city of San Francisco. The Jesuit values of the school continue to put a strong focus on social justice, commitment to service, diverse governance, and ethical responsibility.

USF has five schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Law, the School of Management, and the School of Nursing and Health Professions. All are powered by a dual emphasis on academic rigor and social justice.

The Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good is dedicated to inspiring and preparing USF students to pursue lives and careers of ethical public service and the common good.

In the Master’s in Public Administration online degree program, USF students learn to develop their managerial skills, apply management theory, enhance their understanding of ethical practices in the public sector, and build their competencies in planning, organizing, staffing, and evaluating the work of public agencies. USF’s Master degree in Public Administration program includes 39 credits.

NASPAA provides accreditation for the Master of Public Administration program at USF’s School of Management.

The Public Affairs grad school was ranked #121 nationally out of 277 accredited schools of public affairs, and the university overall was ranked #106 among the nation’s Best National Universities, by U.S. News & World Report in 2013. USF is also cited as one of the Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review in 2013, and was included among the country’s top 50 universities by Washington Monthly in 2011.

10. Penn State World Campus (State College, PA)

Pennsylvania State University’s University Park campus—located in the town of State College, and better known as “Penn State”—is the flagship campus of the Pennsylvania State University system.

Penn State World Campus is the university’s online campus. Penn State World Campus has partnered with Penn State’s School of Public Affairs to offer an online MPA program.

The online Master of Public Administration program helps students manage more effectively and promote positive change in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Besides combining theoretical and applied concepts, the MPA curriculum at Penn State covers subjects such as finance, organizational governance, and administration, while also providing “real-world” experiences for the novice administrator. The Master in Public Administration degree includes 36 credits.

Many MPA graduates work as administrators for government agencies, larger corporations in the public and private sectors, community organizations, or in a number of other areas such as tribal politics, charities, criminal justice, and academia.

NASPAA has accredited Penn State’s Master of Public Administration program.

Penn State is ranked in the Top 25 for its online undergraduate and graduate programs, and #19 for its online graduate business program, in the 2013 Best Online Education Program Rankings of America’s Best Colleges, by U.S. News & World Report. Penn State is also included the 2013 edition of Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review.

11. Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Marist College, chartered in 1929, is a small, private, liberal arts college located on the east bank of the Hudson River about half way between New York City and Albany.

The college offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Marist’s online learning includes courses, certificates, and bachelor’s and master’s degree programs via their iLearn distance learning system.

Marist’s Master of Public Administration program is especially relevant for health care, criminal justice, and human service professionals and those interested in public sector and nonprofit administration.

The online MPH program covers the legal, political, social and ethical context of administration regarding pertinent process and theories. Students learn how to effectively use an array of management and administrative techniques. The online MPH program provides the skills required to effectively manage public and nonprofits.

Students can take their electives in one of three focus areas:

• Ethical leadership
• Public management
• Healthcare administration

Marist College is ranked #8 among Regional Universities (North) by U.S. News & World Report in the 2013 edition of their annual Best Colleges report. The school is also listed in the 2013 edition of the Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review.

12. University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)

University of North Dakota (UND) is located on the Red River of the North, which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota, not far from the Canadian border. The university, which was founded in 1883, is the oldest and largest university in the state.

UND offers more than 200 fields of study, from baccalaureate through doctoral and professional degrees.

The online Master of Public Administration degree at the UND School of Business and Public Administration provides a Health Administration track for students interested in health-related careers. The online MPA degree at UND requires 35 credits. Students also may pursue a fully online graduate certificate in Health Administration, Public Administration, Policy Analysis, or Social Entrepreneurship.

The Master of Public Administration program at the UND has received accreditation from NASPAA.

UND is included in the 2013 edition of Best 377 Colleges by Princeton Review. The MPA program was listed among nationally accredited schools of public affairs by U.S. News & World Report, in 2012.

13. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL)

Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is a private, research university situated near the Kennedy Space Center and Florida Tech Research Park. The university has five academic divisions with strong emphases on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Florida Tech consistently ranks among the best national doctorate-granting universities in the United States.

Florida Tech’s Master degree in Public Administration program thoroughly covers the ethical and sociological behavior within public organizations. The core competencies of Florida Tech’s online MPA program include teamwork, leadership, decision-making, communication, ethics, and diversity. The MPA program involves 36 completed credits.

Graduates from the Florida Tech Master of Public Administration program work for federal, state, and local government agencies, including the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), NASA (national Aeronautics and Space Administration), the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and the SBA (Small Business Administration), as well as non-profit organizations.

Florida Tech has been ranked a Tier 1 Best National University, and has also been included on the Top Online Education honor roll list for bachelor’s and graduate programs, by U.S. News & World Report. The university has also been rated one of the nation’s best schools in the Fiske Guide to Colleges, as well as being named a “best buy” in Barron’s Best Buys in College Education and one of the Southeast’s best universities by Princeton Review.

14. Walden University (Minneapolis, MN)

Walden University, established in 1970, is a private, for-profit university and a leading provider of distance learning in the United States. The school is part of a network of campus- and online-based universities owned by Laureate Education, Inc. Walden University focuses on relevant, actionable learning.

Walden University consists of five colleges offering more than 60 online degree programs and over 300 specializations and concentrations. The school also provides online certificates, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a variety of subjects.

Students in the online Master of Public Administration degree program learn effective ways to balance budgets, develop and negotiate contracts, manage conflict, and build community partnerships.

In addition to a general Master of Public Administration degree, students can earn the MPA degree in 11 different specializations, including Terrorism, Mediation and Peace, Emergency Management, and Homeland Security Policy and Coordination.

15. Post University (Waterbury, CT)

Post University, founded in 1890 and located about halfway between Danbury and Hartford, is a small university providing on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degrees in an array of subjects.

Post University provides accelerated online degree programs and professional certificates. An early leader in online education, Post became the first college in Connecticut and in New England to provide accredited, accelerated degree programs fully online.

Unlike some online MPA Degree programs which focus almost exclusively on the public sector, the program at Post integrates its MBA curriculum into its online Master of Public Administration degree program to help students enhance their executive administration skills and make an immediate difference in their roles.

Students in the MPA online degree program learn to use business knowledge, planning techniques, and decision tools to lead and manage change in organizations. The program covers how global, national, regional, and local trends affect and shape innovation in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and public sector programs.

Post University’s highly interactive classes are offered in eight-week modules, six times a year, enabling students to complete the online Master of Public Administration degree in less time without sacrificing quality.

16. DeVry University (Downers Grove, IL)

DeVry University—founded in 1931, with headquarters near Chicago—is a division of DeVry, Inc., a proprietary institution of higher learning.

DeVry University is a private, for-profit institution with more than 80,000 students. The school has over 95 locations across North America and also provides online education. Students can obtain graduate degrees online, onsite or a mix of both through 8-week sessions offered six times per year.

The Master’s of Public Administration program, offered through DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, requires 45 credit hours. Keller’s specialized Master of Public Administration degree program emphasizes practical applications.

Students in the MPA program are required to choose one of three areas of emphasis:

• Healthcare Management
• Government Management
• Nonprofit Management

DeVry’s online bachelor program is ranked #61 among the Best Online Bachelors Program by U.S. News & World Report, in 2013.

17. Upper Iowa University (Fayette, IA)

Upper Iowa University (UIU), founded in 1857, is located in a rural community in the northeastern corner of the state. The fully accredited private university has numerous learning centers in the U.S., online programs, and centers in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Several of UIU’s U.S. locations are located on military bases to better serve active military personnel and civilians in the area. Because of the numerous locations, military personnel can easily shift the format through which they pursue their education depending on whether they are based in the United States or deployed overseas.

The Master of Public Administration online degree program at UIU offers a General Studies degree, as well as a degree with an emphasis on Government Administration, Health and Human Services, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Nonprofit Organizations, or Public Personnel Management. The online MPA degree requires 42 credits of graduate coursework.

The program has a mission to provide a diverse population of adult learners with an opportunity to develop the analytical, administrative, leadership, and managerial skills required to promote the public good and strengthen the core democratic values via service in government agencies and nonprofits.

18. Strayer University (Manassas, VA)

Strayer University, established in 1892 as Strayer’s Business College, is an accredited network of more than 90 campuses throughout 20+ U.S. states.

The school has evolved over the years to provide diploma, certificate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a broad selection of subjects. In December of 2011, the university acquired the Jack Welch Management Institute, which provides a fully online Executive MBA program.

Students can take a combination of online and on-campus courses. However, over 50% of the students enrolled take all of their courses online. Strayer University is a GoArmyEd, NCPDLP, and Air University ABC school.

The university’s online MPA program offers students the theory and practice needed to succeed in the management and operation of government and nonprofit agencies, nongovernmental organizations, political offices, lobbying and consulting firms, and activist organizations.

The MPA online program covers the structures, processes, and functions of the executive branch agencies of local, state, and national governments and of the nonprofit sector. Students learn about the methods, models, processes, and concepts of public policy analysis, and develop skills to apply analytical techniques.

The program covers methodologies for designing evaluation studies, gathering data, and evaluating and disseminating findings.

19. Kaplan University (Davenport, IA)

Kaplan University, a part of the Kaplan Higher Education Corp., is headquartered in the largest of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, with numerous locations across the United States. The university provides an array of online and traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and diplomas.

Kaplan’s Master of Public Administration online degree program provides practicing and inspiring administrators the important management skills required to provide effective leadership in a wide variety of public service fields. The program covers subjects such as leadership in the public sector, human resource management in the public sector, and finance and the administration of public funds.

The MPA online degree program includes intensive study in areas such as:

• Criminal Justice
• General MPA
• Health Care Management
• Governmental Management
• Fire Science and Emergency Services

20. Capella University (Minneapolis, MN)

Capella University, established in 1993 and a subsidiary of the publicly traded Capella Education Company, is an accredited online university.

Capella University Online offers more than 130 graduate and undergraduate specializations and close to 50 online degree programs. The university provides certificates, bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degree programs.

The online Master degree in of Public Administration program, grounded in national public administration curriculum standards, focuses on building public value through establishing collaborative networks, improving professional communication skills, promoting ethical performance standards, and creating and achieving solutions to the challenges of public protection, policy, and governance.

Students can choose to study for the online Master of Public Administration degree with a program concentration focus.

Austrian economics, of course, is the school of thought which holds that the free market is basically self-regulating and that the government’s role should be limited to providing a reliable and predictable legal structure within which all citizens are treated equally. According to this mode of analysis, any intervention by the government in the economic life of a society beyond the protection of individuals and their property from violence and fraud will inevitably lead to unequal treatment, perverse incentives, distorted price signals, misallocation of resources and investments, boom and bust cycles, and, in general, impairment to one degree or another of the society’s productive capacity.

Boettke was born in Rahway, New Jersey, in 1960. His father was a businessman with a love of basketball, which his son inherited. Boettke has noted the influence on him of his father’s philosophy of life, which laid stress on independence and personal responsibility.(2) He has quoted his father as often telling him: “I was not put on this earth to praise you, but to raise you.”

In the fall of 1978, Boettke entered Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, with the intention of playing basketball and eventually becoming a high school basketball coach. A broken ankle early that fall—and a resulting spiritual crisis—changed his plans. The following year, he transferred to Grove City College,(3) where he took courses with Hans Sennholz, a pupil of the great economist and social theorist, Ludwig von Mises. It was under Sennholz’s influence that Boettke decided to change his career plans, and become an economist.

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Grove City in 1983, Boettke entered graduate school in economics at George Mason University (GMU), in Fairfax, Virginia. There, he studied under Don Lavoie, an important young Austrian theorist whose career was tragically cut short by cancer. While at GMU, Boettke also studied with such distinguished professors as Nobel Prize–winner James M. Buchanan, public choice–theorist Gordon Tullock, and self-organizing systems–theorist Kenneth E. Boulding. He wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on the political economy of the former Soviet Union. Boettke is one of the world’s foremost experts on the causes of communism’s economic collapse, and the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy.(4)

Ludwig von Mises

After taking his Ph.D. in 1989, Boettke held several teaching positions, including one at New York University, where he was influenced by Israel Kirzner, another pupil of Mises’s. Since 1998, he has taught at his alma mater, GMU, where he is today University Professor of Economics and Philosophy. In addition, he serves as the BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism and Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at GMU’s Mercatus Center.

In recent years, Boettke has turned his attention from Sovietology to Austrian economics more generally. He is a prolific author who has (among his many published volumes) co-authored a popular textbook and edited an important journal and two major reference works on that subject.(5)

Most recently, Boettke has published a collection of essays aimed at a general audience, which we heartily recommend to all: Living Economics: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Independent Institute, 2012).

All in all, Professor Boettke is without a doubt one of the world’s leading living proponents of Austrian theory. He is a very busy man, and TheBestSchools is fortunate indeed to have caught up with him for the following interview.

* * *

TheBestSchools: You have a new book out, Living Economics. What did you hope to accomplish with this book? Who is its main audience? What has been its reception, so far?

Peter J. Boettke: The book was inspired by a visit to the Universidad Francisco Marroquin (UFM) in Guatemala City, which is an amazing community of economic educators. Living Economics was written with advanced students in mind—those who are deciding on whether they would like to pursue a career as an economist, and those who are about to embark on a career as economic educators. The idea was to capture for these audiences a vision of what type of economist one could be, and what type of teacher one should aspire to be like.

The book is divided into three sections. The first is a discussion of what are the enduring principles of economics; the second is a set of biographical case studies of great teachers of those economic principles; and third is some suggestions on how economics would be practiced differently if those principles were consistently and persistently followed. The title of the book communicates three meanings, as does the cover art of a healthy and growing tree.

First, economics is a living body of scientific thought, constantly evolving and branching out in new directions. My book should be seen as an invitation to inquiry for the would-be economist to join this scientific conversation and contribute to it.

Second, the tree depicted on the cover—a healthy and growing tree—is deeply rooted. Similarly, the science of economics is deeply rooted in the historical contributions of such master teachers of economics as Adam Smith and David Hume, Jean-Baptiste Say and Frédéric Bastiat, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich A. Hayek, and James M. Buchanan, Vernon L. Smith, and Israel M. Kirzner.

Third, once you understand the principles and the deep historical tradition of these scientific insights into the working of society, then you cannot stop thinking about economic questions. Economics is not a 9-to-5 job, but a 24/7 way of viewing everything in the world.

TBS: Milton Friedman famously said that there is no Austrian economics, only good and bad economics. You yourself prefer the term “mainline economics,” to emphasize the continuity between Adam Smith, the French liberal school of Say and Bastiat, and the Austrian school of Carl Menger, Mises, Hayek, and their American followers. Could you please give our readers a brief summary of the principles which distinguish this “mainline” economic tradition in your sense from what you call the “mainstream” (Keynesian, or interventionist) school of thought?

Adam Smith

PJB: Well in Living Economics, I distinguish between mainline economics and mainstream economics, where “mainline” refers to a set of principles of economic science that trace back to at least Adam Smith, and “mainstream” simply represents a sociological description of what is currently fashionable and what is not fashionable in the academic discipline. Sometimes, the mainline is the mainstream, and at other times the mainline is wildly out of favor with the mainstream. I summarize mainline economics as the rationality postulate and the invisible hand theorem, which are reconciled through institutional analysis. From Smith to Hayek, that is what they viewed as the defining theoretical project of economic science. Throughout this history there were always those who challenged this project, but until John Maynard Keynes, they were largely considered outside of the main body of economic thinking. After Keynes, much of mainstream economics moved way from mainline economics. When the mainstream deviates significantly from the mainline, in my narrative, schools of thought arise to re-engage the community of economists with the mainline teachings of economics.

One of the things that really inspired me on my trip to UFM was a mural they have with the great economists (see video below). As a thought experiment, think about who is up on that wall and why, and then contemplate who isn’t up on that wall and why they aren’t. That pretty much captures what I was trying to get folks to think about in Living Economics, and what the implications are for the way we teach and practice economics.

TBS: Your technical work has focused on the Soviet command economy and its transition to a market economy. Where do you see Russia today? What could have been done differently that might have led to a better outcome?

PJB: Yes, my original studies in economics were in the economics history of the founding of the Soviet Union: The Political Economy of Soviet Socialism, and this was followed up by Why Perestroika Failed. A collection of my studies was later published as Calculation and Coordination. In my work on the failure of the Soviet system, I blend the economic calculation argument of Mises with the dispersed knowledge argument of Hayek and the logic of political decision-making from Buchanan and Gordon Tullock to explain the perverse consequences of socialism in practice.

The socialist experiment resulted in economic deprivation and political tyranny, not due to any accidents of history, but because of pursuing an economic policy regime that cannot work. However, laying bare the internal contradictions of socialism and the corruption of the system that filled in its place is one thing; laying out how to transition from that system to a functioning market economy is quite another. Like many other economists in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, this question preoccupied my scholarly endeavors. What I argue is that we, as economists, moved through three phases of analysis during this time.

Phase 1: Getting the price right. Here, the emphasis was on letting prices adjust to market-clearing levels. But we realized during this phase that getting the prices right is only possible within a set of institutions (namely, defined and enforced private property rights). So, we entered the next phase.

Phase 2: Getting the institutions right. Here, the focus was on property rights and the supporting institutions of contract, etc. But during this phase, economists also started to realize that institutional acceptance is a function of a deeper set of issues associated with trust and, ultimately, beliefs—what we call culture. So, this led us to the final phase.

Phase 3: Getting the culture right. And this is a very hard issue to deal with, though a lot of good work is being done related to trust and trustworthiness.

Milton Friedman went to China in the 1970s and was asked what the Chinese should do to reform their economy. Friedman said: “Privatize, privatize, privatize.” A few months before he passed away, Friedman was asked if he would change his advice about “Privatize, privatize, privatize,” and he said: “Yes, I would say today ‘Privatize, privatize, privatize—provided there is a rule of law.” Like in most things, Friedman basically hit the nail on the head in terms of what we have learned in the 25+ years since the collapse of Communism.

Now, you ask about how things could have gone differently. That is another big issue we have learned—leadership matters, and contingency is acute when leadership matters.

So, the collapse of Communism has taught political economists several things: first, that economic policy is always nested within a set of institutions—that there are economic/financial, political/legal, and social/cultural issues, which all must be taken into account; second, that leadership matters throughout the transition process; and third, that historical contingency can either work in your favor or cut against the successful transition. And I would add a fourth one: that political power corrupts even the most informed and idealistic of individuals, such that you cannot count on ideological alignment to win the day. You have instead a small window of opportunity in which ideological alignment can be utilized to establish institutions that make it difficult for even bad men to do much harm.

In other words, the goal of our political/legal institutions should not be to ensure that the best and the brightest can govern, but instead that if the worst get in power, they can do little damage. This is the idea of a “robust political economy”. In 2011, a collection of my ideas on this topic was published in the Czech language.(6)

TBS: From about 1974 up until 2008, the mainline, or Austrian, tradition underwent a remarkable revival and became broadly influential, both academically and politically.(7) Why did this happen? Did truth simply win out, or were there special historical circumstances which made the resurgence of mainline principles possible?

PJB: Well in science, like in most human endeavors, it requires entrepreneurial action. In this regard, there were two main characters on the American scene: Murray N. Rothbard and Israel M. Kirzner.

At first, they were working with one another to orchestrate an Austrian revival in the 1970s after the passing of Ludwig von Mises, and, with the aid of the Institute for Humane Studies, they started a series of conferences for aspiring economists interested in the Austrian tradition. It was also a very interesting time politically and public policy–wise in the US and the UK, as the Keynesian hegemony was fracturing and there was a counterreaction to the warfare state of the Johnson and then Nixon administrations. So, Libertarianism (more associated with Rothbard) was very attractive to many young people.

So, you have the stagflation of the 1970s and the anti-state sentiment of the anti-War generation, and with that Austrian economics seemed to be attractive to those who wanted to change the existing status quo in economics and politics. After the 1980s, the alliances shift, and Rothbard and Kirzner clearly go in different directions. Kirzner is developing his program at NYU to train PhD students to pursue academic jobs, and Rothbard, together with Lew Rockwell, establishes the Mises Institute which has a strong academic vision, but wider social goals, as well.

Folks influenced by both Kirzner and Rothbard begin to develop their own careers, and throughout the 1980s and 1990s new programs at the undergraduate and graduate level are established, new journals are begun, professional associations, etc. Everything that is associated with an intellectual community is established and there are varieties of these established throughout the world.

So, yes, I believe truth does win out, but it requires entrepreneurial action on the part of pivotal players at pivotal times, and folks like Rothbard and Kirzner provided that.

Rothbard passed away in 1995, and Kirzner retired in the early 2000s, so the past decade the movement they have inspired has gone in multiple directions and is continually evolving. The financial crisis of 2008 also saw a renewed appreciation of the Austrian theory of the trade cycle and its explanation for financial instability due to the manipulation of money and credit by the government.

TBS: In spite of this recent period of flourishing, the mainline tradition continues to be treated as a pariah both in academia and in much of the mainstream media. For example, there is hardly any mention of the Austrian viewpoint in the article on philosophy of economics in the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and Paul Krugman regularly dismisses Austrians as a “cult” on the op-ed page of the New York Times (for example, here). What are the reasons for this paradoxical situation? How can it be possible?

PJB: Well, I think there are several reasons. First, the mainline-versus-mainstream issue that I talked about earlier is certainly at work. But second—and this is very important—is that there are at least two communities of Austrian economists: the academic/scientific community, who work to publish their work in scientific journals and with academic publishers; and the internet/public engagement community, who often eschew the scientific community, but are very vociferous and express strong opinions on everything from public policy (which is their right at citizens) to refinements of technical economics (which sometimes they are not qualified to talk about).

The Austrian School became a banner for Ron Paul, and to some extent the Tea Party—both of which raised serious red flags to establishment types like Krugman. But let me not overstate this issue. Krugman sees red flags with significant economists who have won the Nobel Prize, just as he did. Hayek, Friedman, and Buchanan all are viewed by Krugman as intellectually wrong, and, to be honest, most of us believe that Krugman as a journalist/pundit is wrong, and Krugman as a scientist has some very strong contributions, but also some so-so contributions. That is the nature of science—we disagree. But he blurs the line between disagreement and efforts to discredit, and he often tries to use the political enthusiasms of supporters of Ron Paul and the Tea Party for the free market ideas of Mises and Hayek to discredit a long and legitimate intellectual tradition in economic science. It is a shame and he should know better.

The Web has great benefits in the spread of knowledge, but it also has some bumpy parts, which means that you get a lot of amateur “experts” who don’t really have to invest the time and energy to earn that expertise and can pontificate. As a radical free market supporter myself, I have great sympathy with their enthusiasm for these ideas, and as someone disillusioned with the current state of US politics, I share their frustration. But I don’t believe that the vast majority of these folks have invested enough time to have a detailed position on the nature of monetary policy in the US. The “End the Fed” movement devolves into a sick form of a conspiracy theory, and it discredits legitimate probing into alternative monetary regimes in the wake of the historical record of the Fed.

Frédéric Bastiat once warned that “The worst thing that could happen to a good cause, is not to be artfully criticized, but to be ineptly defended.” I fear that we free market folks have been ineptly defended too often during the recent past. We must do better.

TBS: How big of a setback was the 2008 financial crisis for mainline economics? Given that mainliners have a better explanation for the crisis, why do you think interventionists have been able to stage such a stunning political comeback?(8)

PJB: In addition to what I said above about inept defenses, I think there are important issues related to political structure that make it very difficult to change policy in a free market direction. Think about how difficult it is to have a real conversation about our fiscal situation. If you take the literature on the “fiscal gap” seriously, we are staring at a $211 trillion dollar fiscal gap. This means that we are bankrupt now, not 25 years from now. But our political culture will not allow us to have this conversation. And if we do, it is all about questions of the size of government, when really we need to be addressing the scope of government. It is not about starving the state of resources, it is about starving the state of responsibility.

We need to have the market and civil society doing much more than the state to address social ills, if we hope to get the fiscal situation under control. We haven’t provided strong enough evidence that the market and civil society can address these issues. So, we have to work harder to prove our case and we have to be more principled in our approach.

The problem in Washington, DC, is decidedly not that there is political division and gridlock; the problem is that there is a wide and enduring consensus among both parties that we are going to have a large and ever-expanding generous welfare state, and are not going to pay for it. This cannot continue.

TBS: You have written that “[t]ruth in economics, as in all scientific endeavors, ultimately matters much more than popularity and power.”(9) Amen to that! However, you have also noted that “[e]conomics . . . gives us the key intellectual framework for understanding how we can live better together.”(10) This fact gives the teaching of good economics great practical urgency. What can be done to improve economics education in this country, both in the universities and with the public at large?

PJB: First, I think within the economics curriculum, we need to re-engage our students with the history of the discipline and with the history of economic practice. My colleague Larry White’s book, The Clash of Economic Ideas (11), is just a brilliant example of the blending of both the history of ideas and the policy history of the debates. If our students saw economics in this light, they would see its importance and also the beauty of the ideas.

Second, despite what I said above about the Web and information that is too cheaply earned, I do think public engagement is an important part of what it means to be an economist. So, I think a major role of the economist is to think clearly about economic principles, speak clearly about economic principles, and write clearly about economic principles, to our peers in the science, to our students in the classroom, to public-policy makers, and to the general public.

I stressed “think, speak, and write,” but I also repeatedly stressed clearly. We need to learn to communicate across audiences and not hide behind our specialized jargon of the professional economist. There are issues that are for the specialists and professional discourse, but there is no need for that mode of discourse to completely cloud our ability to communicate with the public. Milton Friedman is the exemplar here. The tight connection between his scientific contributions and his public engagement is also to be emulated.

TBS: You have also written eloquently about the inherent contradiction between good economics and “good politics” (in the sense of politics likely to get an office-seeker elected, i.e., by distributing favors to special-interest groups).(12) Can nothing be done to make politics good in the proper sense of the word—that is, a politics that incentivizes politicians to act for the long term in accordance with the principle of equality under the law? What reforms would help most to make a “good politics” in this sense possible?

PJB: My teacher, James Buchanan, divided economic policy analysis into two realms: analysis over the rules, and analysis within rules. We can only change the outcomes if we change the rules of the game. Given the existing rules of the game, the incentives are aligned in such a way that we are going to get the policy outcomes we have independently of what party is in power. So, we need to focus our intellectual energy on changing the rules, such that the incentives are aligned differently.

If we think about how to improve, first, let me say that government can raise revenue in only three ways: by taxing, borrowing, and inflating. When government has monopoly control over the printing press, what politicians prefer is to run deficits, accumulate public debt, and then debase the currency in an effort to monetize the debt. This results in the economically unhealthy cycle of deficits, debt, and debasement. Adam Smith warned about this, and we are living proof that the problem hasn’t been abated.

So, we need to fix the crisis in our fiscal state through binding rules on the government’s ability to engage in this cycle of deficits, debt, and debasement (Adam Smith referred to it as the juggling trick that all governments practice). How do you stop the juggler from juggling?

First, take the balls out of their hands, and, second, tie their hands. This is what we must do.

Additionally, both Hayek and Buchanan strongly advocated a “general norm” to guide political decision-making, namely: No policy can be adopted which benefits some without benefiting all. So, no discriminatory politics.

Ultimately, we want a political system that exhibits neither dominion nor discrimination. This is the goal which a constitutional order of a free people should strive for.

TBS: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Federal Reserve banking system. Some have argued that it is time for conservatives to make their peace with Leviathan, since it is not going away.(13) On the other hand, the rise of the Tea Party movement might be taken to indicate that mainline principles have more political purchase than ever before. Do you believe a true rollback of the interventionist state and the institution of a minimalist, “night watchman” state is politically feasible at this point in history? If not, is it something we ought to strive for anyway?

PJB: Yes, we should strive for it. Whether it is the “best” solution, or if a better, more perfect vision of a free society is possible, should not deter us from pushing right here and now for a minimalist state.

The bottom line is, we want a society of free and responsible individuals who have the opportunity to prosper in a market economy based on profit and loss, and who can live and be actively engaged in caring communities. An obtrusive state prevents that. We must unleash not only true capitalism, but also civil society. The American ideal of self-government should once again capture citizens and guide their actions.

On the history of the Fed, I recommend the work of George Selgin and Larry White, as well as my good friend and graduate school classmate, Steve Horwitz. I think the history of the Fed does not bode well for any claim to policy perfection. We can, and must, do better.

In Capitalism and Freedom (14), Milton Friedman has a great line where he says basically that any political institution where a sincere error by those in charge can threaten the entire society is perhaps an institution we cannot afford to have. I agree with Friedman. I think the time is ripe for us to reconsider alternatives to the Fed. But I think the time is ripe for us to consider alternative political arrangements for a lot of the Progressive Era institutions that were established around the same time as the Fed.

TBS: Interventionists point to the tremendous growth in our prosperity over the past 60 years, while the welfare state was rapidly expanding. How should a mainline economist respond to this historical argument? Adam Smith said “there is a great deal of ruin in a nation,”(15) but even so, can we go on indefinitely as we are, or is a real catastrophe inevitable? What is the time horizon of the “long run” which Keynes famously dismissed?(16)

PJB: I think the more appropriate passage from Adam Smith is as follows:

The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition, when suffered to exert itself with freedom and security, is so powerful a principle, that it is alone, and without any assistance, not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often incumbers its operations; though the effect of these obstructions is always more or less either to encroach upon its freedom, or to diminish its security.(17)

This explains the past 60 years in my mind. As long as the gains from trade and the gains from technological innovation outpace the stupidity of government policies, economic growth will continue. Not as great as otherwise would be the case, but still to such an extent that tomorrow will be better than today.

But as the obstructions go from a hundred to thousands, there are costs of this stupidity. And if the stupidity outpaces the gains from trade and the gains from technological innovation, then we enter into a stagnation period. Read carefully my colleague Tyler Cowen’s book, The Great Stagnation (18), and note that his examples are from government-heavy-involvement industries (health, education, and governmental services).

If we take the fiscal gap literature seriously, and we are facing a $211 trillion gap between our future fiscal obligations and our ability to pay for those obligations, then we have to take very seriously the costs that the age of economic illusion has forced upon us. We have constantly traded off long-run growth for short-term relief from necessary economic adjustments.

We have to wake up, and but fast.

TBS: In a remarkable essay published in 1978, Louis Spadaro called on Austrians to spend less time critiquing mainstream economics and more time developing their own theory.(19) Has his advice been taken over the past 35 years? What areas of mainline economics still need the most work?

PJB: Great question about the science of economics and political economy. We have to work much harder on the integration of money and capital theory, and I would say that there is still much work to be done at the level of institutional theory. But I think our most important current battles are methodological, rather than method-specific.

The battle that Mises and Hayek waged against scientism (the inappropriate application of the methods of the natural sciences to the sciences of man) is still with us, and it destroys the discipline.

TBS: Is economics a science? How can a field that includes viewpoints as diametrically opposed as yours and Paul Krugman’s deserve the name of “science”? If economics is a science, what sort of science is it?

PJB: It is a science, but it is a philosophical science. I recommend that folks look at Michael Polanyi’s “The Republic of Science”(20) and also his Personal Knowledge (21) , to get a sense of what science is all about.

Michael Polanyi

Economics is definitely a science, but it is a science that follows different epistemological procedures than physics—precisely because it is a science where we are who we study. Fritz Machlup, in answering a similar question years ago, wrote an essay with a title that asked us to imagine “If Matter Could Talk.”(22)

TBS: Though he showed some familiarity with early developments in the theory of self-organization, nevertheless famed Austrian economist and Nobel Prize–winner F.A. Hayek leaned heavily on Darwinian selection theory to underpin his notion of “spontaneous order.” Apart from a few volumes coming out of the Santa Fe Institute, not much seems to have been done to bring Hayek’s insights up to date in this respect. Why is this? Do you see dynamical systems theory, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and similar disciplines as potential resources for a deeper understanding of praxeology, Mises’s term for the science of human action(23)?

PJB: Great question again. I think the future of complexity science is one positive direction that followers of Mises and Hayek could go, but so is a more anthropological direction for empirical research. The key issue to me is not the methods of analysis, but the substantive propositions being explored: rational choice, invisible hand, and reconciliation of individual interest and the common good through institutional analysis.

How do you study how the purposive behavior of individuals that is oriented toward social cooperation and away from violence and conflict? Works such as Scott E. Page’s Diversity and Complexity (24) point in one direction—to study how the gains from social cooperation can be realized—but so do the field studies of Lin Ostrom on common-pool resources (25), or Deirdre McCloskey’s work on bourgeois virtues (26), or my colleague Virgil Storr’s work in cultural economy (27).

I am a more traditional economist and political economist—and one greatly influenced by Mises—so in my own work, I tend to focus on conceptual clarity in theory, an appreciation of the history of thought on these issues, and applications to economic history and/or contemporary affairs. I am a verbal economist, who relies on natural language primarily in exposition, as opposed to formulas, graphs, etc. But I do strive to follow the strictures of deductive logic in my theorizing, and thus produce sound economic arguments.

TBS: I asked before how we could improve education in mainline economics. What about education, more generally? Do mainline principles provide any guidance for us, as we struggle with the abysmal situation in our public schools?

PJB: First, I think our school problem can begin to be addressed with one simple policy: tuition tax credits. Give parents and kids a choice in education. Second, we are witnessing a great social awakening in the home-schooling movement, and we should take notice. Third, new educational approaches are coming online (Khan Academy, for example), and peer-to-peer teaching, etc.

Give people freedom to make their own choices in education, as in every other walk of life, and you will see great experimentation and problems solved.

TBS: What is your forecast for the future? Where will mainline economics be in 10 years’ time? In 50 years?

PJB: I don’t have a crystal ball, but I am very optimistic about the future of economics and political economy. The world is too interesting for folks to disregard the greatest tool available to help us understand man in all his coming and goings, in all walks of life, and across all times and all cultures. The economic way of thinking is too powerful a tool to be lost.

I don’t know the precise zigs and zags that will take place, but I do know that new names will go up on that mural at UFM and make legitimate claims to “sit in the seat of Adam Smith” and contribute to the living body of scientific economics.

TBS: Thank you very much!

NOTES

1. Boettke’s intellectual lineage may be traced as follows: Carl Menger (1840–1921) — Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk (1851–1914) — Ludwig von Mises (1881–1973) — Hans Sennholz (1922–2007); Israel Kirzner (b. 1930) — Peter Boettke (b. 1960). In addition to Sennholz and Kirzner, Boettke also studied under Don Lavoie (1951–2001), who falls in between the Sennholz/Kirzner and Boettke generations.

2. This and all other biographical details are taken from Peter J. Boettke, “Reflections on Becoming an Austrian Economist and Libertarian, and Staying One,” in Walter Block, ed., I Chose Liberty: Autobiographies of Contemporary Libertarians (Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2010), pp. 58–66.

3. Grove City College is ranked #18 on TheBestSchools list of “The 50 Best Colleges in the United States.”

4. See his The Political Economy of Soviet Socialism: The Formative Years, 1918–1928 (Springer, 1990); Why Perestroika Failed: The Politics and Economics of Socialist Transformation (Routledge, 1993); and Calculation and Coordination: Essays on Socialism and Transitional Political Economy (Routledge, 2001).

5. See The Economic Way of Thinking, 12th ed. (with Paul Heyne and David L. Prychitko) (Prentice-Hall, 2009); The Review of Austrian Economics; The Elgar Companion to Austrian Economics (Edward Elgar Publishing, 1998); and Handbook on Contemporary Austrian Economics (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2010), respectively.

6. See Robustní Politická Ekonomie pro 21. Století (Prague: CEVRO Institut Academic Press, 2011).

7. From the end of World War II until the early 1970s, the Austrian tradition in economics had been largely eclipsed by Keynesianism (the doctrine that the market is inherently prone to “failure” and that government must intervene through its fiscal and monetary policies to “correct” this “failure”). Two events mark the dramatic revival of Austrian theory within the academic and public policy communities: a highly successful international conference that was held at Royalton College, in South Royalton, Vermont, in 1974, and the award of the Nobel Memorial Prize for Economics to F.A. Hayek that same year. The proceedings of the South Royalton conference may be consulted in: Edwin G. Dolan, ed., The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics (Sheed & Ward, 1976). Ever since that time, Austrian economics has been a “growth industry,” witnessed by the publication of numerous distinguished articles and books, as well as the founding of many new journals, graduate programs, and research institutes. Since the financial crisis in 2008, however, Keynesianism has staged a rapid academic and political comeback.

8. Generally speaking, the Austrian explanation of the “boom-and-bust” business cycle, or “bubbles,” is that government intervention in the economy leads to distortions in prices, and so to investment by entrepreneurs in projects that are economically unsustainable because they do not correspond to real consumer demand. Such misallocation of investment must be allowed to work itself out through bankruptcy and redirection of entrepreneurial efforts. Renewed government intervention in the form of deficit spending (“stimulus”) and artificially low interest rates, by doubling down on previous mistakes, only compounds the problem and worsens the inevitable day of reckoning.

9. Peter J. Boettke, Living Economics: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Independent Institute, 2012); p. 388.

10. Ibid.; p. xviii.

11. Lawrence H. White, The Clash of Economic Ideas: The Great Policy Debates and Experiments of the Last Hundred Years (Cambridge UP, 2012).

12. For example, Living Economics, op. cit., p. 10.

13. For example, William J. Voegeli, Never Enough: America’s Limitless Welfare State (Encounter Books, 2010).

14. Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, 1962).

15. Adam Smith, Correspondence of Adam Smith, ed. by Ernest C. Mossner and Ian S. Ross (Liberty Fund, 1987); p 262, note 3.

16. “In the long run we are all dead,” from John Maynard Keynes, A Tract on Monetary Reform (Macmillan and Co., 1923); p. 80.

17. From Wealth of Nations, Book IV, Chapter V.b, “Digression concerning the Corn Trade and Corn Laws,” Section IV, Paragraph 43 (=Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, ed. W.B. Todd [Liberty Fund, 1981]; Vol. I, p. 540). Wealth of Nations was first published in 1776.

18. Tyler Cowen, The Great Stagnation: How America Ate All the Low-Hanging Fruit of Modern History, Got Sick, and Will (Eventually) Feel Better (Dutton, 2011).

19. Louis M. Spadaro, “Toward a Program of Research and Development for Austrian Economics,” in idem, ed., New Directions in Austrian Economics (Sheed Andrews & McMeel, 1978), pp. 205–227.

20. Michael Polanyi, “The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory,” Minerva, 1962, 1: 54–73; reprinted in idem, Knowing and Being: Essays by Michael Polanyi (University of Chicago Press, 1969), pp. 49–72.

21.  Michael Polanyi, Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy (University of Chicago Press, 1959).

22. Fritz Machlup, “If Matter Could Talk,” in Sidney Morgenbesser, Patrick Suppes, and Mary Terrell White, eds., Philosophy, Science, and Method: Essays in Honor of Ernest Nagel (St. Martin’s Press, 1969), pp. 286–305.

23. See Ludwig von Mises, Human Action: A Treatise on Economics (Liberty Fund, 2007). Human Action was originally published by Yale University Press in 1949.

24. Scott E. Page, Diversity and Complexity (Princeton UP, 2010).

25. See, for example, Elinor Ostrom, Rules, Games, and Common-Pool Resources (University of Michigan Press, 1994).

26. See, for example, Deirdre N. McCloskey, The Bourgeois Virtues (University of Chicago Press, 2006).

27. See, for example, Virgil H. Storr, Understanding the Culture of Markets (Routledge, 2012).

The rankings contained below are based on many factors, but the high school must produce measurable academic outcomes across a large number of important academic indicators to be included. In addition, a great public high school will have a good reputation with recruiting colleges and be highly ranked in measures of student satisfaction and faculty quality. (Compare our article The 50 Best Colleges in the United States.)

The first step in the ranking process analyzes whether each school’s students perform in the top echelons in academics for a given U.S. high school cohort. ACT scores, SAT scores, average weighted GPA, and the API (Academic Performance Index) are used as a proxy for the educational environment within a high school.

These scores must be adjusted for the fact that students who come from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds tend to score lower, so higher proportions of such students with good scores lead to a higher ranking.

The second criterion used to evaluate the public high schools on this list is the degree to which they prepare each student in the high school community to enter and excel at college. The number and breadth of AP courses offered, Honors courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and relationships with local colleges are major factors in determining the level of academic preparedness for college. The number of students scoring 3 or better (a passing grade) on final AP tests is a telling predictor of post–high school academic performance.

The third aspect of schools assessed for this listing consists of intangible factors, such as innovative degree programs in the arts, diversity of the student body, current student satisfaction with their high school, quality and experience of the faculty, or modern lab or athletic facilities. Also, we have striven for as much geographical diversity as is consistent with our other criteria.

* * *

1. Bronx High School of Science (New York, NY)

Bronx High School of Science, founded in 1938, is part of New York City’s system of selective public high schools.

Bronx Science, as it is commonly known, is renowned for the number of Nobel Prize laureates (eight in all) and National Academy of Science members among its alumni. It is commonly considered the premier science magnet school in the country.

A large number of Bronx Science students have gone on to distinguish themselves in other fields, as well, including six recipients of the Pulitzer Prize.

The school attracts an intellectually gifted student body of diverse cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds from across New York City.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked one of the 22 Top-Performing Schools in America by the Washington Post
• Ranked among top 100 in U.S. News and World Report‘s list of America’s Gold-Medal high schools (public and private)
• Nobel Prize laureates include Leon Cooper, Sheldon Glashow, and Steven Weinberg
• Pulitzer Prize winners include William Safire and Joseph Lelyveld
• Other prominent alumni include critic Harold Bloom, novelist E.L. Doctorow, author Richard Price, architect Daniel Liebeskind, businessman and public servant Ronald Lauder, and Tumblr founder David Karp

2. Northside College Preparatory High School (Chicago, IL)

Northside College Preparatory High School is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Chicago. Northside Prep is a selective enrollment school, teaching at the Honors and AP levels only.

Northside Prep is nationally known for the success of its students in the college admissions process, with over a quarter of the matriculating class admitted to top universities. More than 99% of Northside Prep students go on to college of some sort.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #1 Public High School in the State of Illinois, 2001–2011
• Ranked among Gold Medal Schools by U.S. News & World Report, 2007–2009
• Ranked #37 in the nation in 2010 by U.S. News & World Report
• Ranked #24 in the nation, and #1 in the state of Illinois, in 2011 by Newsweek

3. Connecticut IB Academy (East Hartford, CT)

Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) is a magnet school located near Connecticut’s state capital. The school is a distinguished Blue Ribbon School that is ranked among the best in America by the U.S. Department of Education.

Freshmen and sophomores take full Honors courses, while juniors and seniors take IB courses exclusively.

Seniors must write an Extended Essay, which is “an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects . . . intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery, and creativity.” (CIBA website)

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked Best Magnet School in America by U.S. News & World Report
• Ranked among the Best in America by the U.S. Department of Education

4. Boston Latin Scho0l (Boston, MA)

Founded in 1635, Boston Latin is the oldest public school—and the oldest still-existing school of any sort—in the United States.

The school’s curriculum is based on the traditional educational philosophy which holds that the classics are the foundation of an educated mind. Four years of Latin are mandatory for all pupils who enter the school in seventh grade, three years for those who enter in ninth.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked among Top 20 High Schools in the United States in 2007 by U.S. News & World Report
• Named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Education
• Numerous famous alumni include Cotton Mather, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Ward Beecher, William Sumner, George Santayana, Joseph Kennedy, Leonard Bernstein, and Nat Hentoff

5. Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville, FL)

Stanton College Prep is the oldest continually operating high school in Florida, and was originated in the 1860s as a segregated school for African American children.

To many students, Stanton is known for its challenging academics and rigorous standards. Stanton College Prep also has a nationally recognized student newspaper, The Devil’s Advocate, which makes it an excellent choice for aspiring journalists.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• First in Newsweek’s list of top 1000 public schools from 2000–2003
• #9 on U.S. News and World Report ’s list of America’s Best High Schools
• #1 in the U.S. for IB diplomas
• Consistently in the top three schools in Florida for the number of National Merit Scholars
• Named as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education

6. Maine School of Science and Mathematics (Limestone, ME)

The Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) is a public, residential magnet school chartered and funded by the Maine State Legislature. It is located in the northeastern part of the state near the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, a stone’s throw from the Canadian border.

MSSM features a community learning environment with excellent teacher-to-student ratios, extracurricular activities, and work education credits. The curriculum at MSSM includes rigorous AP courses in the hard sciences, literature and humanities, and the social sciences.

The school has a unique January Term where students participate in experiential learning, internships, and self-directed research projects.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• #38 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of America’s Best High Schools
• Member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST)
• Gold Medal from U.S. News and World Report for Best High Schools in America

7. Signature School (Evansville, IN)

The Signature School is located in the Ohio River town of Evansville, near the point where Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois all meet. The school offers students three major study paths: math and science, fine and performing arts, or liberal arts/humanities.

The high school has been accepted into the IB program. However, the school also offers AP classes for those who choose to not to graduate with an IB diploma.

The Signature School has a focus on academics and the arts. It is well known for its many contributions to summer musicals in the region, as well as for shows by the “Signature Singers.”

The Signature School prides itself on offering challenging courses for the “self-motivated learner,” and for being different from other area schools. The student to teacher ratio is 20-to-1.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• #7 on the Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools
• Ranked #8 by the Washington Post in 2011
• In the top 10 charter schools
• Consistently ranked the #1 school in Indiana

8. International Academy (Bloomfield Hills, MI)

The International Academy (IA) is located in Oakland County, Michigan, north of Detroit. The school is a public, tuition-free high school of choice for students across the county.

Students, who are required to earn both high school and IB diplomas, are selected by a lottery system to ensure fair enrollment standards. IA has an extended school year (205 days) and an extended school day.

According to school data, 94% of the Class of 2011 earned IB diplomas, as compared to the world average that year of 76%.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• 21% of Class of 2011, National Merit Scholars
• Ranked #2 by U.S. News and World Report for Best High Schools
• Ranked #1 School in the Nation by Newsweek in 2003
• Average ACT Composite Score of 29

9. BASIS Scottsdale (Scottsdale, AZ)

BASIS Scottsdale, located in a suburb of Phoenix, is part of the BASIS network of high-performing, open-enrollment, tuition-free, public charter schools. Like its sister schools, BASIS Scottsdale offers a wide range of advanced curriculum studies in a variety of topics.

Newly enrolled students take a diagnostic academic test before enrolling, which places them in a group based primarily on proficiency in mathematics.

Every year, BASIS Scottsdale’s Master Teacher Campaign raises money to increase teacher salaries to ensure the highest quality faculty.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Featured by CNN for quality of education
• Featured in the documentary film, 2 Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution
• Rated one of America’s Top High Schools by Newsweek

10. Oxford Academy (Cypress, CA)

Oxford Academy is a college preparatory school located in the Anaheim school district, near Los Angeles. The school is rigorous and highly competitive; students only enroll after passing a rigorous test of their academic abilities.

Although Oxford Academy is not classified as a magnet school, a comprehensive entrance exam consisting of math, English, and essay writing is required for all students. Oxford Academy begins entrance testing in the 7th grade, with 200 spots open each year.

Oxford Academy follows a University of California system–approved A-G course listing, meaning that all required classes meet the standards and recommendations for entrance in a University of California college. In addition to the UC course listing, Oxford requires all students to choose either the Business or the Advanced Sciences pathway in their junior year.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #4 Best High School by U.S. News & World Report
• Ranked #7 by the Washington Post for Best U.S. High Schools
• Average combined SAT score of 1,912
• Four-year graduation rate of 100%

11. Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky (Bowling Green, KY)

Gatton Academy is a public academy with an early college entrance program, funded by the state of Kentucky and located on the campus of Western Kentucky University.

Gatton Academy focuses exclusively on college preparatory activities, and students of the Academy are considered both high school students and college undergraduates by Kentucky and federal scholarship programs.

Thus, the students are qualified for research programs, scholarships, honors, and even bachelor’s degrees, but at the same time must take the classes required by the state of Kentucky for a high school diploma.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Second year in a row on the Public Elite High Schools list
• In the top 20 of public high schools for scores on standardized tests
• Top-ranked by America’s Best High Schools in 2011
• Top School in America by Newsweek in 2011
• Average combined SAT score of 1,912
• Four-year graduation rate of 100%

12. School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas, TX)

Dallas’s School for the Talented and Gifted, or “TAG school,” is a public, college preparatory, magnet secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area. TAG’s curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive academic program to serve identified talented and gifted students in grades nine through twelve.

TAG uses the Advanced High School criteria set forth by the Texas Education Agency, and provides the most rigorous curriculum in the state of Texas.

The school supplements the state-wide standards with an AP curriculum which helps prepare students for top-ranked universities.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked the #1 high school in the United States in 2006 by Newsweek
• Consistently rated the Best Public High School in Dallas by D Magazine
• Rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency every year since its inception

13. Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (Irondale, AL)

Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (JCIB) is a public high school school located not far from Birmingham.

JCIB has an award-winning arts and literature magazine named Counterpane, which is entirely produced by the students. The school offers a unique, for-credit class which teaches creative writing skills and artistic appreciation through work on Counterpane.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• In the top five Newsweek Best Public High Schools from 2005–2009
• Included in the Elite School list published annually by Newsweek
• Average ACT composite score of 29
• Counterpane received the highest award in 2009 by a program to recognize excellence in student literary magazines

14. Preuss School (San Diego, CA)

The Preuss School is a college prep high school located on the campus of University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

Founded in 1999 after the passage of California Proposition 209, Preuss provides a rigorous curriculum and educates low-income students between sixth and twelfth grades.

The school only admits students whose primary guardian does not have a college education, and who qualifies for federal assistance or free lunches. With a focus on low-income and minority students, the excellent academic performance of Preuss students is a credit to the focus and discipline of the school’s faculty and students.

Students study a standard selection of high school subjects on the high school campus, but also have access to the excellent UC campus system for college-level classes. The school runs a shuttle to the campus to facilitate access to UCSD courses.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Received the Distinguished School Status from the Center for Education Reform
• Blue Ribbon School designation from the Department of Education
• Ranked in the top 50 of both Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report rankings of the top U.S. high schools
• Highest API in San Diego County

15. Science Academy of South Texas (Mercedes, TX)

The Science Academy of South Texas is a public, magnet high school located near Brownsville, between McAllen and Harlingen. The school serves as an attractive alternative to local high schools for students interested in pursuing education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

The school’s unique focus on STEM subjects has earned it national recognition for quantitatively gifted students.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #26 by the Washington Review for Best High Schools
• Ranked #12 in Newsweek’s Best High Schools list
• Department of Education Blue Ribbon award-winner

16. City Honors School (Buffalo, NY)

City Honors School, a public, college preparatory school for grades 5–12, recently completed a $43 million dollar expansion of its facilities.

The school develops a differentiated curriculum for each student, aligning their studies to their intellectual and academic abilities.

Amazingly, the class of 2012 received $111,000 in scholarships for their intended colleges, not including need-based aid. This is a concrete indication of the high academic and extracurricular performance of the City Honors student body.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Named at or near the top of all public high schools in Western New York by Business First every year since its rankings began in 1997
• Named one of the top-50 public, feeder schools in the United States by Worth magazine
• Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Richard Hofstadter, Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler, and former White House press secretary Bill Burton are all alumni

17. Biotechnology High School (Freehold, NJ)

Biotechnology High School is a public magnet high school of the Monmouth County Vocational School District, located southeast of New Brunswick between Trenton and Asbury Park.

The school’s curriculum includes an intensive science course, which exposes students to eight science classes over four years and prepare them to pursue their education in biotechnology.

The science curriculum focuses on critical thinking, problem solving, new technologies, teamwork, and the scientific method. Ninety percent of graduates continue their education in the life sciences.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #1 school in New Jersey by the Daily Beast online magazine
• Ranked #25 among Best U.S. High Schools by Newsweek
• Average SAT scores above 650 in reading, math, and writing

18. Wyoming High School  (Wyoming, OH)

Wyoming High School, located in a suburb of Cincinnati, offers a challenging course load, including many AP classes.

The school is nationally recognized for its AP American Government program, and is therefore an excellent choice for students looking for careers in politics, political science, or foreign relations.

The school also has an excellent arts program, offering students three string orchestras, a band, and many choral options. In addition to music, Wyoming High offers classes in computer graphics, photography, and AP art classes.

The school also has many foreign language options for students, including Spanish, French, and Latin. All foreign languages are offered in five levels, which culminate in the AP class for the given language.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Top five schools in Ohio according to standardized test scores
• Ranked #50 on the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools list
• Ranked first nationally in American Government curriculum

19. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (Chicago, IL)

Walter Payton College Prep is a public, selective-enrollment magnet high school located on Chicago’s north side.

Walter Payton is known for many strengths, including a focus on mathematics and government. Its math Olympiad team recently won the Illinois Council of Mathematics Teachers (ICTM) state championship.

Also, the model UN team at Walter Payton won the best delegation designation at the Global Classrooms conference.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Winner of the 2010 Intel Schools of Distinction award
• Named best high school in Illinois by the Chicago Tribune
• Ranked #41 among Best U.S. High Schools by U.S. News & World Report

20. Walnut Hills High School (Cincinnati, OH)

Walnut Hills High School—a public, college preparatory high school—is part of the Cincinnati Public Schools district. As such, it maintains a diverse student background.

Walnut Hills has a focus on classical studies, and all students must complete at least three years of Latin. Emphasis is placed on ancient Roman and Greek history and culture. The unique classical studies focus is augmented with a varied academic curriculum.

Walnut Hills boasts more AP courses offered to students than any other school in the nation.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #36 among Best U.S. High Schools by U.S. News & World Report
• Four-time academy award–winning, documentary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim and Nobel Prize–winning physiologist Stanley Prusiner are Walnut Hills alumni

21. Van Nuys High School (Van Nuys, CA)

Van Nuys High School (VNHS) is a public high school located just north of Los Angeles. VNHS has three magnet programs on their campus to serve the diverse needs of the student body.

All three magnet programs have a large percentage of students who take extensive course loads. The three magnets also have established relationships local organizations in the relevant magnet focus. Community hospitals provide opportunities for students pursuing life sciences to explore the healthcare industry.

The creative arts magnet has excellent relationships with the Live Concert Academy and the Zappa Institute of Technology. These relationships provide students with real life experiences which build upon their academic achievements.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• One of the best high schools in California
• Popular singer Paula Abdul and computer scientist Vint Cerf, recognized as one of the fathers of the internet, are alumni

22. Williams Preparatory (Dallas, TX)

Williams Prep, which opened in 2007, is a part of the Uplift Education Charter Schools chain. The school focuses on nurturing strong relationships between teachers, students, and parents, while maintaining sterling academic standards.

Williams Prep provides a curriculum with the highest academics that truly prepares students for college. To foster a professional learning environment, teachers and students are given the time and tools they need to reflect and achieve academic and professional growth.

Every student in the graduating class of Williams Prep was accepted to college. The school also has a partnership with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, which provides students with access to the cutting-edge research and hands-on medical training they need to pursue further education in the medical field.

The school is also financially backed as a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) school by the Texas High School Project.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• 5/5 rating from Redfin.com
• Highly ranked by the Texas Department of Education

23. Harding Charter Preparatory High School (Oklahoma City, OK)

Harding Charter Prep is exclusively focused on preparing students to attend the college that is the right fit for their abilities and interests.

Despite Harding’s excellent reputation and rankings, there are no requirements as to which students can attend. There are no tuition fees or entry tests required.

The school instills in students the expectation that they will go to college, no matter what their socioeconomic background. The school places a high premium on community service, and requires service hours from both students and their parents.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #68 for Best U.S. High Schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2010

24. School of International Studies (San Diego, CA)

The School of International Studies is a component part of San Diego High School, a complex of five, administratively independent campuses located on the southern edge of Balboa Park.

Collectively, San Diego High School is the oldest high school in the city, and one of the oldest in the state. The other campuses focus on arts, STEM, business, and communication and leadership.

The division into subject areas provides students with a more focused learning environment.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #4 on Best U.S. High Schools list by U.S. News & World Report
• IB pass rate of 98%
• API score of over 800
• Ranked #22 by Newsweek

25. Lincoln Park Academy (Fort Pierce, FL)

Lincoln Park Academy is a public high school on the Atlantic coast of Florida, south of Cape Canaveral, near Port St. Lucie.

Referred to simply as “LPA”, the school offers dual-enrollment options, AP and IB classes, and a curriculum track focused on engineering.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #43 in the Challenge Index by the Washington Post
• Rated “A” every year by the Florida Department of Education
• Ranked #21 by Newsweek

26. Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston, TX)

Carnegie Vanguard High School is a part of the Houston Independent School District. Formerly located in Houston’s Sunny Side community, the school recently moved to the Fourth Ward/Midtown area.

Carnegie Vanguard—which is named after industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie—provides education to students in grades nine through twelve. The school offers all core AP classes.

The school is a Vanguard Program–designated school, and 100% of its students are gifted and talented in academics. Students come from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, which contribute to the diversity and learning environment of the school.

To attend the school, each student is identified as having academic and leadership abilities exceeding his or her age cohort. The school places an emphasis on students using their gifts to contribute to the health of their community and school.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #13 in the Challenge Index by the Washington Post
• Ranked #1 School in Texas by Children at Risk
• Ranked #11 by Newsweek

27. Pine View School for the Gifted (Osprey, FL)

Pine View School is a public, college preparatory high school located on Florida’s Gulf coast, between Sarasota and Venice. The school provides the only program in Florida dedicated to educating intellectually gifted students.

The mission of Pine View School is to use an experiential learning environment which encourages a passion for intellectual curiosity and bravery of thought. Pine View combines academic rigor with a commitment to social awareness of the student’s community and world.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #11 U.S. High School by U.S. News & World Report
• Combined average SAT score of 1,335 (out of 1,600)
• Ranked #15 on Best U.S. High Schools list by Newsweek

28. Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies (Richmond, VA)

The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies is a public, regional high school located in Virginia’s state capital, whose mission is “to provide broad-based educational opportunities that develop gifted students’ understanding of world cultures and languages as well as the ability to lead, participate, and contribute in a rapidly changing global society.”

Today, the school is known for its outstanding academic record and high rankings in scholastic competitions. All academic classes are taught at an AP or Honors level. The class of 2010 received over $8.1 million in scholarships totaling more than $50,000 per student.

The Governor’s School asks students to complete 140 hours of community service by their date of matriculation. Students do not receive their diplomas without first meeting their community-service goals.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• High School Fed Challenge winner
• National History Bowl winner

29. The Early College at Guilford (Greensboro, NC)

The Early College at Guilford (ECG) is a public high school which partners with Guilford College, a national liberal arts institution.

The school’s curriculum is writing-intensive and fast-paced. Students take Honors and AP courses in the ninth and tenth grades, and by the eleventh and twelfth years have the opportunity to take classes at the undergraduate level.

They can earn up to two years of college credit in high school, making ECG an attractive choice for students who are ready for college earlier than their peers.

The high school is founded on Quaker principles, and encourages an atmosphere of conviviality and trust among professors and students.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #17 for Best U.S. High Schools by U.S. News & World Report
• Elite High School designation by Newsweek

30. Bergen County Academies (Hackensack, NJ)

Bergen County Academies (BCA) is a free, public, magnet high school located in Hackensack, New Jersey.

BCA is divided into seven specialized course curricula. The school also has an excellent student to teacher ratio of 11-to-1.

The quality of the faculty at the Bergen Academy is outstanding, with many teachers holding doctorates in their specializations.
To encourage the application of their education, seniors at Bergen participate in the Senior Experience, an internship program where students work for an outside company for the whole day, one day a week.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked Best High School in New Jersey by Bloomberg Businessweek
• Average combined SAT of 2100 (out of 2400)—the second highest score in the U.S.
• Ranked #21 ranking by Newsweek

31. Paxon School for Advanced Studies (Jacksonville, FL)

The Paxon School for Advanced Studies (PSAS) is a part of the Duval County Public Schools system. It has one of the strongest math and science programs in the state of Florida.

PSAS has been invited to apply for the Siemens Advanced Placement High School award, an honor only awarded to ten schools in each state. The high school’s faculty consists of over 100 teachers whose qualifications include National Board Certification and Teacher of the Year.

The beautiful, 88-acre campus includes athletic facilities, a swimming pool, a professional-grade television production studio, science labs, and a theater.

In addition to an excellent academic record, PSAS also focuses on a balanced life for students, with social clubs such as Youth Leadership for Change.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #30 for Best U.S. High Schools by U.S News & World Report 
• Ranked #6 ranking by Newsweek

32. International Community School (Kirkland, WA)

The International Community School (ICS) is a public high school belonging to the Lake Washington School District, near Redmond, northwest of Seattle.

ICS is one of a group of schools founded by Dr. Bruce Saari. The word “international” in the school’s name refers to its focus on international issues in the curriculum.

The school is not open-enrollment; rather, students enter a lottery after minimum admission requirements are met.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Average composite ACT score of 29.5
• 100% graduate completion rate

33. Whitney High School (Cerritos, CA)

Whitney High School (WHS), located between downtown Los Angeles and Anaheim, is known as a community academic learning center, with a focus on vocational and educational achievement.

WHS offers 12 Advanced Placement courses and 35 Honors courses. The school also has a variety of interscholastic sports and co-curricular activities, which include student government, service organizations, broadcast journalism opportunities, drill teams, and pep squads.

WHS also has an advanced robotics team and participates in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education
• Six-time winner of the California Distinguished School award
• Best Overall Academic Performance in California by Businessweek

34. Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Nashville, TN)

The Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School is a public high school located in the Tennessee state capital. The school is committed to meeting academic needs of students and to providing opportunities for their personal development.

Hume-Fogg’s mission is to instill a love of learning within the student body. The school accomplishes this through emphasizing creative thinking, abstract reasoning, experiential learning, and self-discipline.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #36 on the Best High Schools list by U.S. News & World Report
• Professional baseball pitcher Johnny Beazley, Academy Award–winning director Delbert Mann, and poet Randall Jarrell are all alumni

35. Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (West Palm Beach, FL)

The Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (AWDSOA) is a public, magnet high school drawing students from across Palm Beach County.

AWDSOA has an intensive focus on the arts, with six areas of specialization: Communication Arts, Dance, Digital Media, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. Two classes from a student’s chosen area of specialization are taken, in addition to the normal class load.

The culture of the school is centered on creativity and expression. Therefore, AWDSOA is a great springboard for students intending to perform or create professionally.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #36 on the Best High Schools list by U.S. News & World Report 
• 79 students have started their own theatre companies
• 363 students have appeared on television
• 14 are in national theater tours

36. Classen School of Advanced Studies (Oklahoma City, OK)

The Classen School of Advanced Studies is a public, magnet high school which offers IB diplomas, as well as fine arts classes. Students joining the school choose a major, whether within the IB program or in one of the many specialized fine arts programs offered.

Students are not restricted to classes based on their majors, but each major does have a structured course load. The school’s arts program has won several awards and honors at the state level.

Majors Available at Classen:

• International Baccalaureate
• Band
• Dance
• Dramatic Arts/Technical Theater
• Guitar
• Instrumental Music
• Piano
• Strings
• Visual Arts
• Vocal Music

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked among the Top 100 in the Challenge Index by the Washington Post
• Ranked #14 by Newsweek
•  Accreditation by the North Central Association of Schools

37. Jericho High School (Jericho, NY)

Jericho High School is located in Nassau County on Long Island, near New York City. The school offers a variety of AP classes, as well as the opportunity for students to earn credits at nearby St. John’s University, in Queens.

Jericho High School also boasts among the highest average SAT scores in the country, and spends more money per student than any other high school on Long Island.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #32 by Newsweek
• Musician/producer Jon Carin and actress/filmmaker Adrienne Shelly are alumni

38. George Mason High School (Falls Church, VA)

George Mason High School (GMHS) is a comprehensive public high school located near Washington, DC. The school is unusual in serving grades 8–12, making it one of the rare five-year high schools in the U.S.

GMHS has won numerous honors and awards for its scholastic achievements, including consistently top rankings for the VHSL Scholastic Bowl Team.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #45 by Newsweek
• First school in Virginia to become an accredited IB institution

39. Sturgis Charter Public School (Hyannis, MA)

Sturgis Charter Public School, which is located on Cape Cod, offers a comprehensive range of classes, including AP classes and the full IB program for all students.

The program of instruction consists of courses taken in six groups: Language A; Language B; Individuals and Societies; Experimental Sciences; Mathematics; and the Arts.

Courses are further designated as Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL) to meet different students’ abilities in a given course area. To receive the IB diploma, students must complete at least three courses at the Higher Level (HL).

In addition to the extensive coursework, diploma candidates must also complete a thesis and a course in philosophy known as the Theory of Knowledge.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #29 by Newsweek
• Very low student-to-teacher ratio of 10/1

40. Locust Valley High School (Locust Valley, NY)

Locust Valley High School is located near Oyster Bay, across Long Island Sound from White Plains. The average income of the surrounding area is one of the highest of the nation.

Locust Valley’s excellent student newspaper, The Spectrum, has won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association/Empire State Scholastic Press Association Gold Award for quality in high school student journalism.

Locust Valley also has a focus on history and government, and gives a special award each year to a graduating senior who excels in both of these areas.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #55 by Newsweek
• Ranked #99 by U.S. News &  World Report
• Ranked #144 by the Washington Post

41. William A. Shine Great Neck South High School (Great Neck, NY)

William A. Shine Great Neck South High School a public four-year high school located on Lake Success on Long Island, not far from New York City. The school offers a wide range of specialized educational opportunities including TESL, special education, and Regents.

Great Neck South High also has very strong music and choral programs. In addition to structured coursework, students are also offered an opportunity to pursue an independent study in a chosen field with guidance from a teacher.

The school offers eight language choices, including Mandarin and American Sign Language, an indication of the cosmopolitan nature of the school.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick, Emmy Award–winning 30 Rock producer David Miner,  and Danger Danger drummer Steve West are alumni

42. Sonoran Science Academy Tucson (Tucson, AZ)

Sonoran Science Academy Tucson is a public charter school that is exclusively focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects, while still providing a standard menu of curriculum choices for a pre-college education.

The school’s  mission statement is embodied by students and faculty, and reads: ”The vision of Sonoran Schools is to be America’s premier STEM school organization, graduating future leaders and world-caliber talent.”

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Ranked #27 by the Washington Post
• Ranked #103 by Newsweek
• Ranked #144 by U.S. News & World Report
• Named Arizona Charter School of the Year by AZ Charter Association
• Took First Place in the First Lego Robotics World Championship
• Named Top School by Southern Arizona Science & Engineering Fair
• Took First Place in Intel Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)

43. Davidson Fine Arts (Augusta, GA)

Davidson Fine Arts (DFA) is a public, magnet high school for the fine arts. In addition to a course load dedicated to preparing students for college, DFA offers extensive course options in visual arts, music, chorus, dance, theater, and film production.

The enrollment process at the school is based on prior academic performance, as well as an audition.

Unusually for schools on this list, DFA students are admitted on a racial quota system (45% Caucasian, 45% African American, and 10% other).

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• #1 School in the State of Georgia
• Ranked among Top 100 of America’s Best High Schools by Newsweek
• National Grammy Signature School

44. The Wheatley School (Old Westbury, NY)

The Wheatley School, which was founded in 1955, is a public high school located on Long Island, not far from New York City. The school recently completed an extensive refurbishment and renovation of its facilities.

Wheatley excels in athletics as well as academics, and would be a great fit for any student gifted in both areas. More than 65% of students play on at least one sports team.

In accordance with the school’s flexible approach to education, a program called “Freedom of the Grounds” was instituted, which allows certain students to leave study halls at will. The trust the school places in students is evident, and reflects the quality and leadership potential of the student body.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Television actor Rick Hoffman, novelist Nicole Krauss, Seinfeld writer Carol Leifer, and U.S. soccer star Mike Masters are all alumni

45. duPont Manual High School (Louisville, KY)

duPont (sic) Manual High School, a public, magnet high school, began in 1892 as an all-male vocational training school.

The school has excellent academics, and a sterling reputation for football. The school has won five state titles and two national championships—one of the best records in high school football.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Several top rankings  in America’s Top High Schools by Redbook
• Named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education—the highest honor a school can receive

46. Coral Reef High School (Miami, FL)

Coral Reef High School (CRHS) is known locally as “Miami’s Mega Magnet School” because it offers six comprehensive magnet programs.

The school does not serve local students alone, but instead takes applications from students across Dade County. Student enrollment decisions are determined by a lottery, except for the fine arts, where students are accepted on the basis of their artistic ability.

Due to the high level of student performance, CRHS receives more money than most other districts of comparable size. The school has a live television studio, and produces the daily morning newscast through student efforts.

CRHS has six different magnet paths, including IB, Leisure Medicine & Health Science, Business & Finance, Legal & Public Affairs, Engineering & Technology, and Visual & Performing Arts.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• “A” on Florida’s FCAT examination more than 10 times since 1998
• Singer JD Natasha is an alumna

47. Woods Charter School (Chapel Hill, NC)

Woods Charter School (WCS) is a public, charter high school which offers a challenging preparation for attendance at university, with an emphasis on character development.

WCS has a long history of strong student performance as measured by state testing, AP pass rates, and SAT and ACT scores.

The school has many attractive features for prospective students, including small class sizes, close student-teacher relationships, and a caring school community.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Rated among the Top 200 High Schools by the Washington Post
• 52% of faculty have advanced degrees
• North Carolina Honor School of Excellence
• 90% of seniors enrolled in AP courses

48. Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans, LA)

Benjamin Franklin High School is a public, magnet high school which was founded in 1957 to support the talents of gifted children.

Ben Franklin has a tough and selective enrollment process, and draws the smartest and most motivated students from across the city of New Orleans.

The school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports, performing arts, publications, and clubs.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Named by CBS News “one of the best public high schools in the country—a magnet for the city’s smart and motivated students”
• Has produced 17 National Achievement Semifinalists—the most of any school in the U.S.
• Five-star rating (highest possible) from the Louisiana Department of Education

49. Davidson Academy of Nevada (Reno, NV)

The Davidson Academy of Nevada is a free, public day school for “profoundly gifted” students, which was founded by the entrepreneur/philanthropist couple, Bob and Jan Davidson. As the first U.S. public high school formed for this purpose, the Davidson Academy’s student body has a distinguished history of academic achievement.

The school is located on the campus of the University of Nevada at Reno, which affords secondary students the opportunity to interact with college students and professors. The Davidson Academy pours significant resources into each student, working with them to come up with a personalized learning plan to adapt their education to their individual skills.

The admission requirements may be the most stringent in the nation, as only candidates with an SAT, ACT, or IQ score in the top one-tenth of one percent are eligible to apply.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• The Washington Post called the school one of the country’s “top-performing schools with elite students”
• Nuclear scientist Taylor Wilson—the youngest person to build a working nuclear fission device—is an alumnus

50. Monta Vista High School (Cupertino, CA)

Monta Vista High School is a four-year, public high school located in Silicon Valley, near San Jose.

Monta Vista, which is widely regarded as one of the top high schools in California, is located in one of the most affluent cities in the country, with an average income of more than $100,000 per household.

The school is an academic powerhouse, with 42 National Merit Semi-finalists and 84 National Merit students.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• API of 956 (out of 1000) in 2012
• Ranked #57 in the nation by the the Washington Post

Individuals who know how to acquire and manage money are valued in just about every industry, including nonprofits and government agencies.

Those with an MS in Finance or a Master of Business Administration in Finance are prepared for careers in corporate finance in areas such as divisional financial analysis, treasury, cash management, credit analysis, and financial analysis.

Master of Finance Degree Curriculum

Most Master of Science in Finance degree programs focus on finance and the financial markets, emphasizing equity evaluation, mathematical finance, and investment management. Programs awarding master’s degrees in finance also tend to emphasize financial theory and quantitative methods in financial management.

Students in these programs typically participate in applied research and modeling, and learn how to make smart financial decisions for companies, institutions, and individuals.

Financial specializations are available in areas such as:

• Corporate finance
• Public finance
• Consumer finance
• Insurance investment management
• Financial markets
• Quantitative finance
• International finance
• Banking

The Master of Finance degree programs have a macro and a micro component; students learn how the global financial system works and how companies and individuals evaluate risk and returns, make good business decisions, and raise capital.

Most Master of Science in Finance degree programs cover subjects such as:

• Financial modeling
• Corporate finance
• Risk management
• Financial investments
• Portfolio Management
• Econometrics
• Financial Reporting
• Mergers and acquisitions

Most MBA in Finance degree programs cover subjects such as:

• Corporate finance
• Investments
• Derivatives
• Portfolio strategies and analysis
• International investments

Master of Finance versus MBA in Finance

Individuals seeking a strong focus on finance typically select a Master of Finance degree, whereas those interested in a more general business education with more courses in management and other business disciplines acquire a MBA with a concentration in Finance. Those with an MBA in Finance are prepared to seek a management position immediately upon graduation.

Many of the Master of Finance degree programs can be completed in a year, whereas an MBA in Finance typically take two to three years to complete.

A Master of Finance degree program can be a good choice for people who have recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree, since many MBA programs require applicants to have completed several years of work experience.

The financial courses in the MBA in Finance programs are typically similar to those included in a Master of Finance program.

Master Degree in Finance Job Opportunities

• Investment banker
• Asset/wealth or private equity manager
• Financial analyst
• Mutual funds manager
• Financial risk manager
• Financial planner
• Corporate finance officer
• Chief financial officer
• Venture capitalist

MBA in Finance Jobs

• Corporate Finance
• Personal Finance
• Public Sector
• Securities Sales Agent
• Investment manager
• Chief financial officer
• Finance manager
• Financial advisor
• Financial analyst

One-Hundred-Percent Online Master of Finance and MBA in Finance Degree Program Ranking Guidelines

We selected the following 100% online Master in Finance and MBA Finance degree programs based on the quality of each school’s program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

1. Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business

The online MBA with an emphasis in finance degree is designed to help students advance in their current career path in the financial services industry or corporate finance.

The program reviews leading-edge financial theories, as well as the concepts and analytical techniques used to manage businesses in a global environment.

The W.P. Carey School of Business has received accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The MBA in Finance core curriculum covers subjects such as managerial accounting, financial accounting, managerial fiance, statistics for managers, organization theory and behavior, global business environment, strategic management, and other subjects.

The MBA with a concentration in finance includes electives such as:

• Financial Statement Analysis
• Advanced Corporate Finance
• Investment Fundamentals/Portfolio Management
• International Financial Management

Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business was ranked #2 in the 2013 Best Online Graduate Business Programs list, and #30 in the 2012 Best Business Schools list, by U.S. News & World Report. ASU was also ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top-Tier U.S. Universities.

The full-time MBA provided by the W.P. Carey School of Business was ranked #59 in a global survey by The Economist. The W.P. Carey School of Business itself has been ranked #1 for research productivity by Technovation, and #21 for research productivity by the University of Texas at Dallas.

Arizona State University has been ranked #79 in the world, and #26 among public universities in the United States, by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, a publication established by the Shanghai Jiaotong University. ASU has also been named one of America’s “Best College Buys” by Forbes magazine.

2. Penn State World Campus

The online Master of Finance degree program is designed for people interested in careers as financial professionals in financial management or investment management.

The program covers subjects such as financial modeling, including basic statistics, capital budgeting, and forecasting.

The online Master’s degree in finance also covers advanced subjects involving strategic financial decisions, such as capital structure and cost of capital, valuation, and corporate control. Students also learn about financial derivatives, securities, covering options, forwards and futures, and OTC derivatives.

The online Master of Finance degree program, accredited by the AACSB, prepares students for professional certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst certification.

The online Master’s degree in finance program utilizes a cohort model in which all the online students begin the online Master of Finance degree program at the same time and progress through the courses together.

Penn State University World Campus was ranked #19 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs, and #12 in the Top Public Schools list, by U.S. News & World Report in 2012. In 2011, the school was ranked #12 nationally by SmartMoney magazine in its Colleges That Help Grads Get Top Salaries list.

Penn State University World Campus has a combination of high peer and instructional quality, excellent student satisfaction indicators, and a world-class reputation.

3. Washington State University

The online MBA with a concentration in finance covers the principles of international finance, including financial management of multinational corporations and international investments.

The program also reviews making decisions regarding problems with asset management for personal and business portfolios.

The Online MBA program is AACSB International accredited.

The MBA in Finance degree program covers real and nominal interest rates, term and risk structure of interest rates, bond pricing, investment and commercial banking, and financial futures.

Washington State University was ranked #1 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list, and #60 in the Top Public Schools list, by U.S. News & World Report in 2013.

4. University of Michigan-Dearborn

Students in the online master’s degree in finance program are prepared for careers in corporate finance, financial institutions, and investments.

Students can enter the online Master of Finance program with any undergraduate degree.

The curriculum which integrates the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) program provides a strong foundation for students interested in obtaining CFA credentials. The curriculum also provides a strong foundation in finance and related disciplines for students interested in other financial careers.

Students in the Master in Finance program learn to evaluate and manage risk in a global setting and estimate the value of real or financial assets. Students also have opportunities to expand their network of professional relationships.

The required courses in the Online MS in Finance degree are shown below:

• Applied Statistical Modeling
• Finance Fundamentals
• Economic Analysis: Firm and Consumer
• Investment Process, Analysis and International
• Topics in Corporate Finance

University of Michigan-Dearborn was ranked #21 in the Best Online Graduate Business programs, #33 in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities (Midwest), and #6 in the Top Public Schools Regional Universities (Midwest), by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also recognized as a Best Business School by Princeton Review.

5. Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of Business

The Online Master of Business Administration-Finance program covers financial skills in important areas such as valuation, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, insurance, and investments.

Students in the Finance MBA program can specialize in either corporate finance or investments. CFA and CFP materials are incorporated into the MBA in Finance program to help students prepare for their exam.

The Online MBA with a concentration in finance includes courses such as:

• Investment Analysis
• Financial Strategy
• International Finance Management
• Finance Seminar

Northeastern University was ranked #57 in the National Universities list, #57 in the Best Business Schools list, #82 in the Part-time M.B.A. list,  and #8 in the 2011 Up-and-Coming Schools list, by U.S. News & World Report.

6. University of Dallas, College of Business

The online MBA with a concentration in corporate finance covers concepts and application of business strategy, financial forecasting and planning, asset selection and financing, and cash flow management.

The online MBA in Corporate Finance covers subjects such as international finance, mergers and acquisitions, dividend policy, hedging, and other subjects. Students can also develop sub-fields in international finance or accounting.

The Online MBA with a concentration in finance includes courses such as:

• Intermediate Corporate Finance
• Intermediate Financial Accounting
• Corporate Treasury Management
• International Finance
• Corporate Valuation

University of Dallas was ranked #10 in the Best Value Schools list, and #120 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list, by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine also ranked the University of Dallas as a Best Value School in the West Region.

The university was also included in the 2012 Best of the West list by Princeton Review, and has been ranked #120 by Forbes.

7. Southern New Hampshire University

The online Master in Finance degree program provides financial analysis and quantitative skills. The program covers corporate finance, investments, financial markets, advanced economic theory, and more.

Students in the Online MS in Finance degree program are prepared for management and professional positions in investment banking, corporate finance, financial markets, financial management, government securities companies, and other sectors.

The Master in Finance degree includes concentrations in Corporate Finance and Investment and Securities.

The online MBA in Finance, combined with a test-prep course, prepares students to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam.

8. Florida Institute of Technology

The Master of Business Administration-Finance degree program, rooted in the case method approach, combines real-world applications with academic principles.

The Online MBA-Finance program includes core courses such as Managerial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Organizational Behavior, Financial Management, and Marketing Management.

The Online MBA in Finance degree includes specialization courses such as:

• Investment Management
• Financial Markets and Institutions
• Financial Management Policy
• Portfolio Analysis

Florida Tech University was ranked as a Tier 1 Best National University, and also included in the Top Online Education honor roll list for Bachelor’s and Graduate programs, by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida Tech has also been named one of the Southeast’s Best Universities by Princeton Review, rated a Best Buy in Barron’s Best Buys in College Education, and ranked one of the nation’s Best Schools in the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

9. Grand Canyon University, Ken Blanchard School of Business

The MBA with an emphasis in finance includes the servant leadership and value-based management principles of Grand Canyon University’s Ken Blanchard School of Business.

The MBA in Finance degree program covers a broad range of business subjects and principles. The program reviews how to stay competitive in a global marketplace, as well as forecasting and raising funds in capital markets.

Grand Canyon University provides an education from the context of its Christian heritage.

The MBA program includes courses such as:

• Finance Principles
• Managerial Finance
• Strategic Management
• Operations Management
• Economics
• Applied Business Probability and Statistics

Grand Canyon University has been included among the Five Top e-Schools in America’s Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs list, by CNN Money.

10. Post University, Malcolm Baldrige School of Business

The online MBA degree in Finance is designed for professionals currently employed in, or for those seeking to enter, the financial industry.

The Finance MBA program reviews the intricacies of financial organizations, tools, and constructs.

The Online MBA in Finance degree also covers the applications and theories for portfolio management, public financial management, investment management, and financial statement analysis.

The curriculum, which combines theory and practice, focuses on new value creation through innovation and creativity.

The online MBA in Finance degree includes courses such as:

• Investment and Portfolio Management
• Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
• Public Finance Policy and Application
• Managing Financial Institutions

Graduates of MBA in Marketing programs obtain positions in manufacturing, financial services, medical technology, and retail industries. Jobs requiring an MBA in marketing are available in strategic marketing, planning, and product management. Some MBA marketing graduates become specialists in market research, sales, advertising, distribution, or brand management.

In a Master of Business Administration marketing program, you’ll learn how to develop and implement effective marketing strategies throughout a company. You’ll receive a strong foundation in marketing strategies, market research, and consumer behavior. You’ll build on the foundation through electives in specialized areas.

Most of the marketing MBA degree programs cover branding, advertising, new product management, best pricing strategies, international marketing, research, communications, consumer behavior, and creating effective marketing plans.

Most of the Master in Business Administration, Marketing Concentration, degree programs include much of the curriculum of a traditional MBA degree program.

Some of the rewarding marketing career paths are shown below:

• Brand management
• Advertising and promotions
• Market research
• International marketing
• Management consulting
• Sales and sales management
• New product development
• Services marketing
• Web development and social media
• Technology commercialization

Online MBA in Marketing Degree Program Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online MBA marketing programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

1. Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

The online MBA, Marketing Concentration, program thoroughly covers the marketing field. Students in the program learn about strategies, alternative methods, organizational planning, and control.

The International Marketing elective reviews the opportunities, trends, and characteristics of foreign markets.

The Consumer Behavior elective covers the social processes affecting consumer decision-making and behavior. The course also covers models of consumer behavior.

The Advertising elective reviews history, theory, and practice of advertising agencies and organizations.

The Washington State University College of Business received accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Washington State University is ranked #1 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list, and #60 in the Top Public Schools list, in 2013 by U.S. News & World Report.

2. Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business (Tempe, AZ)

The online MBA with an area of emphasis in Marketing prepares students to advance in their careers in brand management, corporate marketing, or product management.

The online classes are taught by the faculty members who teach in the school’s other MBA programs. The MBA marketing program requires nine credit hours of associated elective classes.

The MBA in Marketing online program includes electives such as:

• Development and Pricing of New Products
• Business-to-Business Marketing
• Services Marketing
• Global Marketing

Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business is ranked #2 in the 2013 Best Online Graduate Business Programs list by U.S. News & World Report. ASU is also ranked among that magazine’s Top-Tier U.S. Universities.

The MBA with a specialization in Marketing program was also ranked #4 by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2010, while the W.P Carey School of Business was ranked #1 for research productivity by Technovation, and ASU was named one of America’s Best College Buys by Forbes magazine.

#3. Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management (Malibu, CA)

The Online MBA with a concentration in Marketing evaluates the techniques, concepts, and tools required for developing marketing strategy and marketing programs.

Students in the Master of Business Administration Marketing online program learn how to determine which consumer groups to serve, as well as which products and services to provide. The online MBA program with a concentration in marketing is accredited by the AACSB.

Students in the online MBA Marketing program study pricing, promotions, and distribution arrangements to assess profitability and growth potential. Students also work with partner companies on a “live” case study taken from the business world.

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management was ranked #81 in the Best Business Schools list, #54 in the National Universities list, and #43 in the Part-Time M.B.A list, by U.S. News & World Report. Graziadio School of Business and Management was also ranked #74 Best U.S. Business School by Forbes.

4. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Whitewater, WI)

Students in the online MBA with an emphasis in Marketing make strategic decisions in cases and projects.

The university reports the MBA program develops business people who are capable of thinking globally, behaving ethically, and leading innovation.

The online courses are taught by the same faculty members who teach the traditional courses. The school’s MBA program is accredited by AACSB International.

Students can choose from marketing courses such as:

• International Business (Marketing)
• Buyer Behavior
• Strategic Marketing for Entrepreneurs
• Advertising and Promotion Management
• Internet Marketing
• Production Innovation and Pricing
• Seminar in Current Marketing Topics
• Strategic Marketing Planning

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is ranked #49 in the 2013 edition of the Best Colleges in Regional Universities (Midwest) by U.S. News & World Report. The university’s College of Business & Economics received the European CEO Global Business Education 2011 Most Innovative Business School, Mid-West United States, award, as well as the 2011 Best Remote Learning Programme, North America, award.

5. Northeastern University, D’Amore-Mckim School of Business (Boston, MA)

The online MBA Marketing Specialization program covers subjects such as research, new product development, focused strategies, brand advertising, and diverse markets. The university’s business programs are AACSB accredited.

The MBA Marketing online program prepares students to build brand power through studying the theories, concepts, principles, and terminology of brand management and brand equity.

The program covers target-market identification, media choice, message strategy, and advertising evaluation, as well as qualitative and quantitative marketing research methodologies.

The online Master of Business Administration Marketing program also reviews the decision-making process involved in marketing products abroad, as well as the cultural, economic, and political forces affecting the marketing process in the global marketplace.

Northeastern University was ranked #57 in the National Universities list, and #57 in the Best Business Schools list, by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also ranked #82 in that magazine’s Part-Time M.B.A. list.

6. Regis University (Denver, CO)

The online MBA with specialization in Marketing degree program emphasizes marketing principles and the best ways to implement these principles to acquire, retain, and understand customers.

The program also provides the tools required to develop and implement marketing strategies throughout a company. The curriculum includes case analysis.

The MBA Marketing Specialization degree program covers the ethical practice of marketing in small business, corporate, and nonprofit organizations, while connecting the theory of marketing to real-world applications.

Regis University has been ranked a Top University in the West by U.S. News & World Report, and was also named one of the Best Online Colleges in 2012 by that magazine. The university’s College for Professional Studies is named a Top Military Friendly School for 2013 by GI Jobs.

7. Herzing University (Madison, WI)

The Master of Business Administration in Marketing degree program prepares students for management positions in various business enterprises.

All the courses emphasize the application of theory and practice using case studies.

The Master of Business Administration in Marketing degree program also reviews statistical data analysis, price strategies development, global consumerism, advertising management and communications, interactive and strategic marketing, and brand project management.

Herzing University was ranked #10 in the Faculty Credentials and Training, Top Online Graduate Business programs, list by U.S. News & World Report.

8. Post University, Malcolm Baldridge School of Business (Waterbury, CT)

The MBA Marketing online degree program provides practical knowledge to make good business decisions. The online MBA degree with Marketing Concentration covers creating value and profit from opportunities in the global economy.

The program also covers marketing mix strategies, business strategy planning, competitive intelligence, developing new offerings, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities, as well as matching value propositions to consumer buying behaviors.

The MBA Marketing Concentration program includes a curriculum focused on creating new value through innovation and creativity.

9. Saint Leo University (St. Leo, FL)

The online MBA Marketing Concentration degree program covers business fundamentals and marketing concepts and theories. The program supports students working in marketing fields and those seeking a marketing career.

The online MBA Marketing Concentration degree program provides the technologies and analytical tools required to solve complex management problems.

The online MBA Marketing degree program courses cover subjects such as:

• E-marketing
• Brand management
• Marketing research
• Sales management
• Advertising and promotion
• Marketing research
• Marketing innovations and new product development

Students can complete the 36 credits required for graduation in one year, or they can extend their studies for five years.

Saint Leo University, a Catholic university, has been selected as one of the Top Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report.

10. Colorado Technical University (Colorado Springs, CO)

Colorado Technical University (CTU) offers a Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing degree. This program provides students the skills required to contribute to vital marketing decisions for companies and organizations.

The program covers marketing research, marketing plans, e-marketing, international marketing, global competition, and other subjects. Students learn about designing and modifying marketing strategies for international, multinational, and global markets. The MBA in Marketing program utilizes the project-based Professional Learning Model.

The curriculum reviews the transformation of marketing via technology. The program reviews how e-business is changing traditional marketing functions and concepts.

The MBA with a Concentration in Marketing degree includes courses such as:

• Marketing Research Methods
• Marketing in the Digital Age
• International Marketing
• Management Capstone

CTU was named “Best of the Best” in the 2009 Computerworld Honors program in the Academia and Education category. CTU ranked among the top schools in numerous categories in 2011 in the Diverse Issues in Higher Education list of top degree-granting schools for minorities.

In 2013, Military Times ranked CTU the #1 online school for military veterans. In 2013, the school was included in the military-friendly schools list by G.I. Jobs magazine and was recognized by Military Advanced Education as one of the top schools serving the educational needs of the Armed Forces.

Entrepreneurship no longer relates only to establishing a new company; entrepreneurship is an applicable skill for just about any company’s development.

An Entrepreneurship MBA is a valuable asset for business owners as well as for managers at established companies operating on an entrepreneurial model.

An MBA program with a specialization in Entrepreneurship covers business administration strategies encouraging innovation. The classes review business fundamentals from an entrepreneurial angle. Entrepreneurial courses focus on business plan development, recognizing opportunities, and the entrepreneurial process.

Those with an MBA in entrepreneurship have opportunities in an array of fields. They can also provide their unique skills to large companies switching to a more flexible business model.

Those with an MBA in Entrepreneurship have career opportunities including business development manager/director, entrepreneur, consultant, small business owner, sole proprietor, and marketing manager/director.

Individuals with an Entrepreneurship MBA have opportunities with corporations, consulting companies, defense contractors, financial services companies, the education sector, Internet commerce, healthcare, and manufacturing.

MBA Entrepreneurship Degree Program Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online MBA in Entrepreneurship degree programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

#1 Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)

Oklahoma State University was ranked #70 in the Top Public Schools list, and #37 in the list of Best Online Graduate Business Programs, by U.S. News & World Report. The Oklahoma State University School of Entrepreneurship’s graduate program was ranked in the top 20 in 2012 by Princeton Review.

The School of Entrepreneurship’s Riata Center for Entrepreneurship received the 2012 “NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurship Excellence Award.” Every year, the School of Entrepreneurship hosts a three-day seminar named the “Experimental Classroom” for entrepreneurship educators. It’s widely recognized as the top program of its kind.

The online Master in Entrepreneurship program covers the nature of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process. The program combines core content with a strong commitment to experimental learning. It enhances student competencies in areas such as risk management, opportunity recognition, resource leveraging, business planning, and innovation.

The online Master in Entrepreneurship degree program is part of the university-wide entrepreneurship emphasis at Oklahoma State University. Most students complete the online Master in Entrepreneurship program in two years.

#2 Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School (Boston, MA)

Suffolk University is included in the 377 Best Colleges list for 2103 by Princeton Review.

All the online MBA courses are taught by Sawyer Business School faculty members. The Sawyer Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

The MBA Entrepreneurship concentration includes electives such as Emotional Intelligence, Career Strategy, Management Consulting, Leading Change, and The Entrepreneurial Nonprofit.

Full-time students can complete the MBA online degree program in 10 to 16 months, and part-time students can complete the degree program in 16 to 28 months.

The required courses of the MBA Entrepreneurship concentration degree program are shown below:

• Corporate Entrepreneurship
• Business Startups
• Writing the Business Plan
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Small Business Problem Solving
• Global Innovation & New Product Development
• E-project Practicum
• Green and Sustainable Business

#3 Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA)

Regent University is ranked #75 in the Best Online Graduate Business programs list by U.S. News & World Report.

The online MBA program provides a major in entrepreneurship. This program provides a global perspective.

The Master of Business Administration degree also addresses entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving and capitalizing on new business ventures.

The MBA program, which is grounded in traditional contemporary concepts and traditional business theory, also integrates Judeo-Christian values.

Students in the online MBA degree program learn to create and present business strategies and plans to meet the funding requirements of the financial investment community for a new business or a new product/service within an existing business.

The online MBA program provides a 16-month, fast-track program completion. Online students have an optional residency, which provides them opportunities to interact with other students and professors in person.

#4 Post University, Malcom Baldrige School of Business (Waterbury, CT)

Post University is ranked #87 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list by U.S. News & World Report.

The Master of Business Administration Entrepreneur Track is designed for professionals who want to start their own business, for entrepreneurs who own their own company, and for corporate professionals who seek to increase value in their company. The average program completion time is 23 months.

The MBA program with a Entrepreneur Track includes a curriculum focusing on new value creation via innovation and creativity. Students learn to identify untapped opportunities, and to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability, as well as to grow a current business.

The program also covers the principles and goals of operating a small business.

#5 Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

In 2011, Northeastern University was ranked #8 in U.S. News & World Report‘s list of Up-and-Coming-Schools.

The online MBA Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specialization degree program thoroughly covers business enterprise from the fundamentals of operations and finance to strategic planning and marketing.

The MBA degree program provides a comprehensive review of the global marketplace. It also includes guest speakers from start-up companies, venture capital companies, and law firms.

The online MBA Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specialization program covers a wide array of subjects such as:

• Entrepreneurial finance for high-tech companies
• Debt financing and management
• Creating new ventures
• New product development

The program covers risk analysis, capital management, sources of financing, capital budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and licensing.

#6 Benedictine University (Lisle, IL)

Benedictine University was included among the top 20% of colleges in America by Forbes magazine in 2011.

The online MBA program with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Managing Innovation provides knowledge and skills to those seeking to start their own business, current business owners, those working for a startup company, and current business owners.

The program covers managing creativity, building a business plan, and financing a venture.

Students in the online MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Managing Innovation degree program can take one course at a time, or take take two courses at a time through the accelerated MBA program.

#7 Walden University (Minneapolis, MN)

Students in the online MBA degree program with a specialization in Entrepreneurship learn how to start a new business and foster new business enterprises within an organization.

The Master of Business Administration program with a specialization in Entrepreneurship combines theory and practice. It takes an estimated 22 months to complete.

The Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship includes courses such as:

• Innovation and Technology
• Managing and Leading: A Contemporary Approach
• Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
• Business Strategy for Competitive Advantage
• Building and Funding an Entrepreneurial Venture
• Marketing
• Financial Management

#8 Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH)

The online MBA Entrepreneurship degree program evaluates capital and venture capital opportunities, as well as franchising plans.

Students learn how to research, evaluate, and develop new business opportunities. Most of instructors are former business owners, consultants, or executives.

Students in the online Entrepreneurship MBA program learn about strategies and models for initiating and operating consulting businesses. The program also provides business skills and strategic knowledge based on theory and best practices used by successful companies and entrepreneurs.

The MBA Entrepreneurship degree program is designed for prospective entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and current business owners.

#9 Capella University (Minneapolis, MN)

The Master of Business Administration with a Entrepreneurship specialization covers the core business competencies focused on starting, building, and advising entrepreneurial ventures.

The MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship provides a foundation in global marketing, accounting, data analysis, operations management, and other subjects.

The program evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of various types of businesses structures and funding options, as well as growth and exit strategies.

The online MBA program with an Entrepreneurship specialization includes simulation and a personalized capstone project which provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquire from the program to a meaningful project in their career.

#10 South University (Savannah, GA)

The online MBA degree program with a specialization in Entrepreneur and Small Business prepares students for the practical application of concepts, theories, and practices required to initiate and grow new business ventures.

Students also learn how to produce a comprehensive business plan. The online MBA program reviews the business strategies covered by the on-campus MBA program.

The online MBA program covers the best practices of management and decision-making. Students learn planning, process, and production strategies.

Students are prepared to be a small business owner/manager of an existing business or a new business.