NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University has been named as the number seven Accredited Online College in the United States by study.com.
Study.com compiled a list of the 50 best accredited schools that provide online degree programs. Data was gathered from sources including the U.S. Department of Education and various accreditation agencies. All of the schools on this list have regional or national accreditation, and many of them have earned multiple specialty accreditations for its programs as well. In addition to their accreditations, the site looked for schools with a variety of online program options that encompass both multiple levels and a ranged of fields of study.
“We are honored to be recognized as a leading online education provider in the United States,” said Vice President for Technology, Innovation and, Economic Development Dr. Darlene Williams. “Northwestern State University embraced online education more than two decades ago. Accessibility, affordability and quality are fundamental elements of our program, and we will continue to innovate in ways that make it possible for anyone, located anywhere in the world, to become a part of the NSU family.”
Study.com’s rankings are unique in that they emphasize accessibility, affordability, and quality of education, which were considered the most important attributes in our school rankings.
Northwestern State’s online campus, eNSU, is Louisiana’s first and largest electronic campus, offering accommodating class schedules, personalized instruction, military benefits and financial aid to those who qualify. The university offers 40 online degree programs.
The concentration in pre-law and paralegal studies was ranked as the number 10 program in the country by bestcolleges.com. The concentration is within the bachelor’s program in criminal justice. The purpose of the concentration is to establish a pre-law and paralegal studies focus of concentration within the criminal justice program and to offer the entire program in an online forum. The concentration provides a well-rounded liberal arts degree with a legal focus of study. Those who successfully complete this concentration will be better able to transition into post graduate legal study or for the student desiring to move directly into the legal field in a support position in paralegal employment.
Career options for paralegals are growing. Between 2014 and 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects an eight percent increase in the number of paralegal jobs in the nation. The median income for a paralegal is about $50,000 annually, according to the BLS.
The site uses data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics to determine academic quality, affordability and online competency. Several additional ranking factors from a survey of institutions were included in the ranking methodologies.
