Draper, UT -- (SBWire) -- 07/12/2019 --EDsmart.org, a nationally recognized publisher of college resources and rankings, has released the 2019-2020 edition of the Best Online Colleges and Universities.

The EDsmart Best Online Colleges and Universities ranking aims to help students find affordable, quality schools that provide a high return on investment.

EDsmart's ranking of the best online colleges in the U.S. is the most comprehensive and well-rounded to date. The ranking includes only fully accredited schools. Rankings are based on affordability and return on investment, while also considering factors such as graduation and retention rates according to NCES College Navigator reporting.

"As more and more universities offer online programs, it is important to recognize the colleges and universities that go above and beyond," said Tyson Stevens, managing editor of EDsmart. "Our goal is to highlight these schools and their commitment to higher education."

"The Best Online Colleges ranking allows students to compare accredited programs and find those that best fit their education interests and career goals," said EDsmart's spokesperson. "Beyond providing affordable education, a college is not successful if it does not graduate its students, which is why EDsmart rankings place a high value on outcomes, including graduation and retention rates."

The EDsmart 2019 ranking for the Best Online Colleges ranks the University of Michigan #1 as the best online college with Villanova University and the University of North Florida following.

The complete alphabetical rankings are as follows:

Adams State University
Angelo State University
Averett University
Azusa Pacific University
Ball State University
Bluefield College
Butler University
California Baptist University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eureka College
Fairfield University
Fort Hays State University
High Point University
Hope International Univerisity
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Old Dominion University
Saint Mary's College
Sam Houston State University
Simpson College
Smith College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
University of Michigan
University of North Dakota
University of North Florida
University of Wisconsin Platteville
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Valdosta State University
Villanova University
Western Kentucky University

University response to EDsmart rankings has been very positive. Sharing the rankings on their websites and via social media has helped schools attract new students and excite existing students and alumni.

The rankings and data were produced for EDsmart, a leading higher education research organization. All evaluated data was gathered from IPEDs, U.S. Department of Higher Education, school websites, and other reputable sources.

The rankings have been published at https://www.edsmart.org/best-online-colleges/

About EDsmart
EDsmart reviews publicly available data to produce independent ranking assessments of various educational programs, in addition to student guides and resources. The site is regularly updated by a committed team of writers and researchers, who produce college rankings and resources that will help prospective and current college students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.

Media Contact
Company Name: EDsmart
Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
City: Draper
State: UT
Country: United States
Phone: (707) 595-0736
Email: tstevens@edsmart.org
Web: https://www.edsmart.org/