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.

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.”

The Midwest Region consists of schools from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Culver-Stockton ranked fourth among schools in Missouri, and it has the highest ranking of any of the schools which are members of the 14-team Heart of America Athletic Conference. For the full list, go to https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-colleges-midwest/best-value.

U.S. News & World Report takes into account academic quality, cost and need-based aid to determine which schools offer the best value for students. Only schools ranked in the top half of the Best Colleges ranking categories — national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional colleges and regional universities — were considered for the Best Value Schools lists.

Also of note:

• Culver-Stockton is ranked No. 36 among Best Colleges in the Midwest Region. C-SC was ranked fifth among colleges in Missouri. C-SC has been ranked in the top 40 among Best Colleges in the Midwest Region 13 times in the past 14 years.
• Culver-Stockton ranked No. 37 among regional colleges in the Midwest in top performers on social mobility. According to U.S. News & World Report, some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. Most of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are less than $50,000. C-SC was the third-highest ranked school from Missouri on that list.

U.S. News & World Report has been providing nearly 50 different types of numerical rankings of colleges and universities since 1983.

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