OEDb ranks Nova Southeastern University (NSU) as the best online university in 2009, and has consistently ranked NSU as one of its top five online universities. NSU offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs, including a wide range of business, technology, education, and applied science degrees.
The university's online streams a live, or synchronous, version of classes that are taking place on the Web. These real-time classrooms allow distance learners to interact using Web-conferencing technology. NSU also offers asynchronous (archived) classes, which students can attend at their convenience, thus providing greater scheduling flexibility. Discussion forums and email lists supplement these courses, allowing students and instructors to communicate about learning issues. All of NSU's online degree programs are accredited by the Southern Regional Education Board's Electronic Campus.
OEDb ranked Upper Iowa University (UIU) as the No. 4 online university in 2009, and has listed UIU as the best online university in previous rankings. UIU offers over 20 asynchronous undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a wide range of business and health services degrees. UIU also offers open enrollment, which allows students to sign up for classes at any point during the year and begin learning. The online learning platform provides access to electronic library resources, student support services, and all necessary course materials.
Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit institution supported by 19 state governors, offers distance learners a unique academic experience. Rather than accumulating credit hours at WGU, students demonstrate a series of competencies in order to graduate from one of the dozens of degree programs available, which include education, business, information technology, and applied sciences. This competency-based educational model provides distance learners the opportunity to complete degrees as quickly as they are able to master the required skills, and allows those students with previous professional experiences in their field of study to immediately demonstrate mastery of already-acquired skills. This allows professional students to graduate quickly rather than take courses in subjects about which they are already knowledgeable. The online learning structure is asynchronous, and the online platform provides all the learning materials and research resources distance learners need. In addition, students have access to academic advising, tutorial services, and academic support services via the online platform.
Many state universities and state university systems now offer a dynamic range of online degree programs. (The University of Texas System's UT TeleCampus is one such example.) Distance learners are encouraged to explore local state universities and state university systems to find out if online degree programs are available in their fields of interest.