Columbia, SC School of Medicine Ranked Best Online University in the U.S. MyrtleBeachSC News
98% of universities in the United States have switched to remote learning during the pandemic.
Since then, more and more students are continuing their education online, with 17.3 million students in the United States studying online in 2021 – full or part-time. Bay Atlantic University research found that:
- 85% of students agreed that online learning helped improve their critical thinking and problem solving
- 60% of students agreed that e-learning helped further improve soft skills
- 63% of students engaged in online learning because it better suited their lifestyle
- 34% of students said online learning was their preferred way of learning
- The fields with the most online learners for undergraduate degrees were business (26%), computer science and computing (15%), and arts and humanities (15%).
That being said, the experts at ProWritingAid have ranked the best universities in usa for online studies, using data from the US Bachelor Programs Ranking Indicator. The ranking compares the following factors:
- Engagement Score – This measures student satisfaction and instructor responsiveness. The maximum possible value is 100
- Faculty Credentials and Training Score – These measure how well a school prepares qualified instructors to teach remotely. The maximum possible value is 100.
- Services and Technology Score – These measure how well a school prepares qualified instructors to teach remotely. The maximum possible value is 100.
- Expert Opinion Score – rated by experts. The maximum possible value is five.
The scores were then tallied to reveal the best online universities in the USA.
In first place, with a total score of 267.2 out of 305, is the South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, South Carolina. The university scored high for engagement, 88 out of 100, and received 100 out of 100 for degrees and faculty development. 100% of the class of 2022 have also obtained a residency position – with 16.6% pursuing studies in internal medicine.
In second place, with a score of 263.5 out of 305, is the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida, which received the highest score for services and technology.
Please see the full ranking below:
| Position | University | Final grade (out of 350) | Engagement score (out of 100) | Faculty diplomas and training score (out of 100) | Services and technologies score (out of 100) | Expert Opinion Score (out of five) | Tuition per credit |
| 1 | Medical University of South Carolina | 267.2 | 88 | 100 | 76 | 3.2 | $658 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle-Aeronautical University | 263.5 | 73 | 91 | 96 | 3.5 | $447 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 253.5 | 90 | 94 | 66 | 3.5 | $414 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina-Charlotte | 246.3 | 82 | 83 | 78 | 3.3 | $719 |
| 5 | Ohio State University – Columbus | 245.5 | 75 | 85 | 82 | 3.5 | $382 |
| 6 | CUNY School of Professional Studies | 245.4 | 73 | 94 | 75 | 3.4 | $305 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University | 242.4 | 79 | 95 | 65 | 3.4 | $1,138 |
| 8 | Oregon State University | 239.8 | 73 | 95 | 68 | 3.8 | $331 |
| 9 | University of Arizona | 239.6 | 81 | 91 | 64 | 3.6 | $525 |
| ten | University of Central Florida | 231.9 | 69 | 89 | 70 | 3.9 | $716 |
Third place was awarded to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign which received 253.5 out of 305, scoring high on both engagement, 90 out of 100, and faculty credentials and development, 94 out of 100.
The list also includes Ohio State University, Columbus with a score of 245.5 out of 305, North Carolina State University with 242.4, and The University of Central Florida with a score of 231.9.
The ProWritingAid team also compared the total number of online students by country by analyzing data from online course provider Coursera.
the WE leads the way, with 17.3 million students online, followed by India at 13.6 million.
| Country | Total number of online students in 2021 (in millions) |
| UNITED STATES | 17.3 |
| India | 13.6 |
| Mexico | 4.8 |
| Brazil | 3.7 |
| China | 3.3 |
| Canada | 2.4 |
| Russia | 2.4 |
| UK | 2.4 |
| Colombia | 2.2 |
| Egypt | 1.6 |
For anyone considering enrolling in an online course, the ProWritingAid team has outlined some benefits of studying online.
1. Reduction of total costs
Many students opt for online courses due to lower overall costs. Although tuition per credit may be the same as on campus, students will not have to pay for on-campus housing or meal plans, as well as travel expenses.
2. More flexibility
Many students may feel that the flexibility that comes with online learning can better suit their lifestyle. Many online courses run asynchronously, which means you can study around your schedule.
3. Improve time management
Juggling work, life and school is not an easy thing to do. Employers recognize this and admire the time management skills needed, which can be beneficial when applying for positions after graduation.
4. Better global prospects
Students in online programs come not only from the United States, but from all over the world. As a result, class discussions offer a wider range of perspectives, helping you to improve your own cross-cultural understanding and enabling you to interact with different nationalities and cultures.
5. Acquire technical skills
Your online degree also equates to strong technical skills, a definite plus for any job seeker. You will likely need to use digital learning materials, familiarize yourself with new tools and software, and troubleshoot common problems, all of which will benefit you on the job.
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