Xenia Daily Gazette

CEDARVILLE — A recent ranking announced by the SR Education Group listed Cedarville University among the best online colleges in the country.

In the 2017 Top Online Colleges ranking, Cedarville was listed No. 3 in the United States — and the best in Ohio.

The ranking was based on both academic strength and affordability, aiming to provide a list of colleges offering high-quality online education at a relatively low cost. Each of the colleges listed has an annual tuition rate of $15,000 or less.

Cedarville University offers six online master’s degree programs and three online certificate programs, each fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission’s North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Many of the programs have flexible options for completion, allowing students to choose between full-time, part-time or accelerated learning formats.

University of Maryland and University of Washington were the only schools ranked ahead of Cedarville, while University of Connecticut ranked fourth and Morningside College (Iowa) ranked fifth.

The SR Education Group is an education publisher that creates resources for students, providing information about educational opportunities, careers and financial aid. It researches and publishes content about online colleges and posts college rankings to aid students in making decisions regarding their higher education.