U.S. News & World Report today released its 2026 Best Online Programs rankings. Several Marquette graduate programs received high marks nationally.
The College of Nursing’s online program saw the most dramatic rise, moving up from No. 53 in 2025 to No. 35 this year. Nursing was also represented in a new ranking, best online master’s in nursing programs for veterans, slotting at No. 18.
Four specialties in the College of Business Administration’s Master of Business Administration program were ranked in the top 15 based on peer assessment: general management (6), finance (10), business analytics (12) and marketing (12). The MBA program as a whole is ranked in the top 80 for a second consecutive year at No. 78.
The Computer and Information Science master’s program remained in the top 30 in the country, ranked No. 27.
The U.S. News & World Report Online Programs rankings do not utilize standardized tests, instead relying on factors such as faculty credentials and training, services and technology available to students, student engagement and expert opinions on the academic quality of programs. Master’s degree programs, in addition to these criteria, are also ranked based on an assessment of student excellence via undergraduate GPAs, acceptance rates and work experience.
Discover more than 70 master’s, doctoral and certificate graduate programs, including fully online education at mu.edu/grad.
