Montgomery College Ranked a Top School for Online Degrees in Public Service

Montgomery College has been ranked one of the year’s best schools for online degrees in public service by STEPS (Student Training & Education in Public Service). Just under 6 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. earned a ranking position. “The virtual campus at Montgomery College provides students with comprehensive services and support to help them reach their academic goals, and the online degree in criminal justice is a great example of how students are provided with the option to complete their degree entirely in the virtual environment,” said Shinta H. Hernandez, Ph.D., the College’s Dean of the Virtual Campus, Office of E-Learning, Innovation, and Teaching Excellence (ELITE).

“Criminal justice professors have worked tirelessly over the past several years to ensure that the programs’ online courses utilize best practices in distance education, including a variety of media and innovative, often free, instructional materials,” said Ginger R. Robinson, JD, Interim Department Chair, Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice. “Courses are routinely updated to incorporate current events, reflecting the changing nature of law, justice, and society. The faculty’s willingness to meet students where they are, whether it’s the physical or online classroom, ensures that every criminal justice student in Maryland possesses the ability to access the highest quality education.”

This ranking comes at a time when enrollment in online degree programs is on the rise. A recent study from market research company, Technavio, found that online higher education has the potential to grow by 20 percent over the next four years.

“STEPS wanted to find the colleges with the best overall public service education available online. This included degree programs with top-notch academics, support services for students and affordability of enrollment,” said Kyle Smith, community outreach specialist at STEPS. “Identifying and acknowledging these schools is critical as more students look toward online higher education options in a post-pandemic era.”

This ranking comes at a time when enrollment in online degree programs is on the rise. A recent study from market research company, Technavio, found that online higher education has the potential to grow by 20 percent over the next four years.

“MC is one of the few colleges today prioritizing online learning to meet student demand,” said Smith. “Adding online programs also promotes diversity in higher education, opening doors to those who may not have easy access to a campus-based classroom.”

STEPS analyzed multiple datasets from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as well as data collected from the schools themselves. Key data points used to identify top schools include the following:

• Number of online programs in a given subject area
• Tuition and fees per academic year
• Percentage of students receiving institutional financial aid
• Existence of academic counseling
• Offering of career placement services

STEPS vetted an estimated 7,700 postsecondary institutions to create its rankings. To qualify, a college or university must hold active regional accreditation from an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education and have at least one partially online public service program.

See the list of “Best Online Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice” at this link: 

https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/online-degrees/criminal-justice-programs/associates/