91ֱ��’s OnlineU 2026 Rankings include:

• #5 Most Affordable Online Forensic Accounting Programs (Minor)
• #9 Best Online Forensic Accounting Programs (Minor)
• #12 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Law Enforcement (Criminal Justice)
• #12 Best Online Law Enforcement Degrees (Criminal Justice)
• #15 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Counseling
• #23 Most Popular Online Business Degrees in Missouri

“91ֱ�� is committed to delivering flexible, high-quality online education that meets students where they are and prepares them for meaningful careers,” said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, president of 91ֱ��. “These rankings affirm the value of our online programs and the dedication of our faculty to providing practical, career-focused learning experiences that benefit both our students and the workforce.”

According to OnlineU, rankings are designed to help students evaluate online programs using transparent, data-driven criteria. The organization analyzes factors such as tuition affordability, alumni salary outcomes, program popularity, and student demand using data from accredited institutions and national education databases. This methodology helps prospective students better understand the return on investment and real-world value of online degrees.

91ֱ�� offers a growing portfolio of online undergraduate and graduate programs designed to support working professionals, adult learners, and students seeking flexible degree pathways. Programs emphasize experiential learning, applied skills, and personalized support, ensuring graduates are prepared to thrive in competitive job markets.

For more information about 91ֱ��’s undergraduate programs offered online, visit /online-undergraduate-programs/. Learn more about C-SC’s Master of Arts in counseling program, visit /master-of-arts-in-counseling/.

Learn more about OnlineU’s ranking methodology at  .

“We are honored to once again be recognized by U.S. News & World Report, particularly in the areas of Best Value and Social Mobility,” said 91ֱ�� President Dr. Lauren Schellenberger. “These rankings affirm our deep commitment to providing an accessible, high-impact education. Our focus on experiential learning ensures that students graduate with the practical skills and knowledge necessary to launch successful careers and lead meaningful lives.”

In the 2026 rankings for Regional Colleges in the Midwest, Culver-Stockton ranked No. 9 for Best Value, No. 8 (tied) for Top Performers on Social Mobility, and No. 28 (tied) overall.

About the Rankings

The Top Performers on Social Mobility ranking measures how successful colleges are at enrolling and graduating large proportions of economically disadvantaged students. U.S. News & World Report evaluates this based on students awarded federal Pell Grants, the majority of which go to those with adjusted gross family incomes under $50,000.

The Best Value ranking is calculated by considering a school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student receiving the average level of need-based financial aid. According to U.S. News, the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the value. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included in the Best Value list.

U.S. News & World Report evaluates institutions on multiple criteria, including graduation and retention rates, social mobility, faculty resources, financial resources, student excellence, and alumni giving.

Now in its 40th year, the rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.

To be considered in the Regional Colleges Midwest – all schools must focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. These rankings are split into four divisions North, South, Midwest, and West.

“91ֱ�� is honored and proud to be recognized in multiple categories in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. We are pleased that the Culver-Stockton experience has been recognized as a high-value investment for the future that helps students advance far beyond their expectations thanks to our innovative curriculum, our supportive community, and our emphasis on leadership development,” stated C-SC President Dr. Lauren Schellenberger.

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as outcome measures — including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and post-graduate earnings.

“For 40 years, Best Colleges has continued to evolve as a trusted companion to prospective students and their families during the decision-making process,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “The rankings and editorial content offer crucial data as well as college advice and informed reporting to all who seek a college education.” Prospective students can see how C-SC compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated in the U.S. News’ Best Colleges.

Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college, even 0when controlling for their achievement in high school. But some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The vast majority of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.

Knowing which schools offer students the best value is a major factor when students choose where to earn their degree. Determining a school’s ranking takes a couple of things into account: a school’s academic quality, as indicated by its 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the 2023-2024 net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.

For more information about 91ֱ��, its campus, programs, and culture, visit culver.edu.

ABOUT CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE
91ֱ��, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill overlooking the Mississippi River was founded in 1853 by members of the Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 19 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse student organizations, and many campus-life events.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

C-SC also improved four places, from 27 to 23, in Intelligent.com’s rankings for  programs in the country for 2024. Using the same methodology, C-SC earned a score of 87.24 for the category. C-SC also placed 29 in Intelligent.com’s  rankings for 2024 with an Intelligent score of 72.44.

“We are thrilled to see the rankings from Intelligent.com recognize the good work we are doing here at 91ֱ�� to prepare students for successful futures,” said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, president. “This information collected from Intelligent.com is extremely helpful for prospective students and employees, and we are happy to be part of those rankings.”

The multiple rankings that 91ֱ�� received are within the category of Midwest Region, which represents colleges from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Most prominent, C-SC was named 34th Best Regional College, an increase of two from the previous year. Of all schools-
national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional colleges and regional universities- the top half are further ranked into Best Value Schools and Culver-Stockton was named #16, leading to an increase of five spots over the 2021 ranking. The most notable increase in year-over-year rankings was in the category of Top Schools for Social Mobility which named C-SC 17th, listing it twenty levels higher than the previous year!

Dr. Douglas B. Palmer credits the cohesiveness of the C-SC community to these increased rankings, “Extraordinary faculty who are committed to academic excellence, combined with staff who work
diligently to provide best value, all come together to afford our students the best education in a supportive environment.” Palmer said. “The value of a liberal arts education is unmatched in today’s
economy and we are confident that our experiential curriculum and supportive learning environment will continue to prepare our students for a dynamic world.”