Ridgewater ranks in top 25 online degree programs nationwide

WILLMAR - A college rating website has rated Ridgewater College’s online degree programs in the top 25 in the nation.
Ridgewater is a community and technical college with campuses in Willmar and Hutchinson.
BestColleges.com chose the top associate and bachelor’s programs that offer at least three full-time degrees through online classes.
“There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about online programs. Are they legitimate? Are they effective?” said Stephanie Snider, product manager of BestColleges.com, in a news release. “Online learning has gone mainstream, and our goal is to help students find a reputable, accredited program that meets their needs.”
Ranking calculations were based on acceptance, enrollment, retention and graduation.
“We are extremely proud of our online offerings,” said Ridgewater President Douglas Allen in the news release. “Our instructors work hard and are dedicated equally to our online and on-campus offerings. I am pleased that their work has been acknowledged on a national level.”
Ridgewater offers online degrees in law enforcement/professional peace officer, health information technology, liberal arts, computer aided drafting and design, basic activity program, activity management program, medical coding specialist and insurance claim representative.
In the 2013-2014 school year, Ridgewater College had 2,240 students, 42 percent of the student body, taking at least one online course. That’s higher than the national average of one in three students.
BestColleges.com was founded in 2012 to help prospective students find the college that best meets their needs.