Arizona school makes list of top online colleges

Arizona school makes list of top online colleges

Arizona-based Grand Canyon University has been included on the list of Top 25 Online Colleges published by Guide to Online Schools.

The ranking is based on several criteria, including accreditation, cost of tuition and books, student feedback, student/faculty ratio and graduation and retention rates.

Capella University, Western Governors and the University of Phoenix were also included among the top 25 online institutions.

On announcing the recognition, Grand Canyon University CEO Brian Mueller commented that "with recent statistics showing that college enrollment is at an all-time high and that nearly one-quarter of college students take some online college courses, it's critical that we provide a high-quality option that is as close as possible to a traditional classroom experience."

Other sources that have recognized Grand Canyon for excellence in online education include Fortune Small Business, Technology & Learning Magazine, Fox.com and Online Education Database.

Education experts suggest distance learning may be a good option for adult learners, such as busy parents or working professionals as well as people living in remote areas. Unlike campus education, online programs offer flexible hours and lower cost of tuition.