Online university rankings are a strange creature. Because online universities are still in their nascent stage, there has not really been a common standard set for ranking them. And you certainly cannot just trust every online university ranking that you happen upon. You have to know a little bit more about the rankings and the career field itself to really know what a ranking is worth.
MBA, Law School, Nursing, Etc.
When you look at online university rankings for any of these fields then the responsibility for determining the validity of the rankings is on you. The most important thing you can do is figure out who compiled the rankings that are staring back at you from the computer screen and then judge that individual or institution. Basically, consider the source.
If the source is an online university then you can’t trust the results. They could be genuine but odds are there will be a strong bias if not a deliberate misrepresentation of the rankings. If, however, the rankings come from a reputable source familiar with online education but without ties to any one university then you can trust the rankings more. Just know who created the list and why.
What You Should Know
You should know about a field from sources other than the online university before you choose an online university. This way you will have done your research and you will know what accreditation is necessary for you to use your degree wherever you intend to work. You will be able to evaluate the general coursework and decide is a university is legitimate and the one for you.
Online university rankings for any field must be thoroughly examined before being accepted as credible. You need to know who decided on the rankings and why. And you should know enough about your chosen field, whether it’s nursing, law school, MBA, or another degree, so that you can spot a program that does not have what you need to be able to use your degree in the real world.