EIU Media Relations

EIU Ranked One of the Best Online Colleges in State

Eastern Illinois University has been ranked on two different lists as one of the best online colleges in Illinois for 2015.

On the lists, EIU outranks all of its state competitors including Illinois State University, Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Edwardsville.

The listings are called the “Most Affordable Online College in Illinois” and “Best Online Colleges in Illinois for 2015-2016.”

Regis Gilman, EIU’s dean of the School of Continuing Education, said online learning provides time and place bound students with a convenient and flexible way to access higher education.

“Online learning provides our students with a rigorous and challenging academic experience with enriched discussions and lectures using discussion boards, Skype sessions and video lectures,” Gilman said. “Like the general trend across higher education, online learning is becoming a growing part of instruction at Eastern Illinois University.”

The rankings compared all schools in Illinois that offer online post-secondary education programs based on value and affordability. To view the rankings, go to http://www.onlinecolleges.net/illinois/ and http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/illinois/.

EIU currently offers three online college bachelor’s degree programs and five hybrid master’s degree programs. Hybrid programs require online coursework, but they also require a brief time on campus.

The bachelor degree programs include a bachelor of arts in general studies with an option in child care education, bachelor of science in organizational and professional development, and RN to bachelor of science in nursing.

Hybrid programs include master of arts in art with an option in art education and community arts, master of arts in music with a concentration in music education, a master of science in communication disorders and sciences with speech-language pathology, and a master in science in family and consumer sciences, and a master of arts in aging studies.  All of EIU’s online programs can be found here.