The online degree programs at Southeast Missouri State University have been ranked among the best colleges in the nation in terms of affordability and program quality.

Southeast offers 24 different bachelor’s degree programs in subjects such as criminal justice, business and nursing, and 21 master’s degree programs, as well as a number of certificate and specialist programs. The university serves students in 37 states and as far away as Brazil. Online classes are attended 1302 Southeast students and 46 percent of all Southeast students attend one or more classes online.

For 2017, Southeast online ranked highly on many lists organized by both US News and World Report and OnlineU.org for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

According to US News and World Report, Southeast is tied for 28th place for the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs out of more than 200 named programs; 82nd for the Best of Online Masters of Business Administration Programs out of more than 180 named programs; and 84th for Best Online Masters of Education Programs of 200. The organization ranks Southeast’s online bachelor’s degrees the best in the state of Missouri.

OnlineU.org, a college ranking website by SR Education Group, ranks Southeast’s online program 15th for Most Affordable Online Colleges offering Bachelor’s Degrees of 25 named programs. The university’s online tuition averages $8,215 per year. Other Missouri schools on the list include Central Methodist University (ranked ninth) and Drury University (ranked 23rd). Though Southeast did not rank on the 25 Most Affordable Online Colleges and Degrees overall, the university did rank 12th for Most Affordable Online Colleges Offering Masters Degrees. The only other Missouri school on the list was University of Central Missouri, which ranked 11th.

Chelsea Caile, director of Southeast Online, said Southeast’s online programs are attractive because of their affordability but also their flexibility.

“When you think of a college student, you think of the typical college student that’s on a campus,” Caile said. “So, they’re typically 18 to 22, probably don’t have a family yet, probably don’t really have a career started yet, but online students don’t fit that mold. They’re typically older … many of them are working already 40-plus hours a week and they have families. So the reason they’re coming back to school is much different than why an 18-year-old might start college. I think our affordability is attractive to that demographic because they’re balancing so many other things in their life besides just going to school.”

Caile said working with online students is exciting because of the opportunities it provides for people who want to get a college education.

“It’s so exciting to work in this field because I feel like it provides opportunities to students to learn where maybe they wouldn’t have had that opportunity,” Caile said. “Whether it’s traditional students who need to study everything online but it helps balance out their schedule and their workload or someone like a lot of our students who are having children and work full time who want to get a college education but can’t commit to to coming to campus a certain number of hours a week — online gives them that opportunity. It’s pretty exciting.”

Southeast Online provides online students with a number of resources to help them with their education. Because many of the students will never visit Southeast’s campus, Southeast Online provides a full-time staff of advisers to assist students with understanding how financial services works, how to choose a major and how to apply. Once students are admitted, they have access to online tutoring services, Kent Library resources, textbook rental and a number of other services. Students also can communicate with one another via a Southeast Online Facebook group, class forums and email.

Caile said because of the resources and tailor-made experience provided to students by Southeast Online’s staff, the programs align with the university’s idea of “Will to Do” by providing opportunities to students.

Southeast’s online programs continue to grow as new courses are added. Caile said most classes have a number of opportunities to be developed online, even Dance Appreciation, which allows students the opportunity to watch videos in order to identify types and styles of dance.

For information about Southeast Online’s programs, visit semo.edu/online.