RIVERSIDE (Jan. 7, 2015)--California Baptist University (CBU) earned the no. 23 spot among online bachelor's programs in the 2015 Top Online Education Program rankings released today by U.S.News & World Report. This is a jump up from no. 37 in 2014 and puts CBU second among California colleges ranked in the best online bachelor's programs list. 

CBU entered the online education market in the spring of 2010 with programs offered by the university's Division of Online and Professional Studies. Since 2013, the first year online programs were ranked by U.S. News & World Report, CBU has placed in the top 40 for three consecutive years. CBU now serves more than 3,400 students online throughout the United States, offering 30 online undergraduate majors and concentrations and 16 graduate majors and specializations.

"We are happy to be consistently top ranked since inception, especially considering CBU's four short years offering online programs," said Dr. David Poole, vice president for Online and Professional Studies at CBU.  "We are even more delighted given the significant jump in our ranking to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2015." In addition to the no. 23 spot for best online bachelor's programs, CBU also was ranked among the best online graduate MBA and best online graduate education programs as evaluated nationwide for factors including faculty credentials and training.

CBU ranked no. 7 for faculty credentials and training in the online bachelor's degree category, no. 3 for online MBA faculty and no. 1 for online Graduate Education faculty credentials and training. 

 "The ranking methodology reviews student engagement best practices, graduation and retention rates, student indebtedness, faculty credentials and training, as well as technological infrastructure. These are all key elements, central to our focus as we build and deliver programs that serve the adult student who seeks a quality, reputable degree in an online format, at a reasonable cost.  This acknowledgement and ranking continues to support our mission and drive that quality and experience of faculty, innovative, cutting edge technology, and student support and service are at the heart of what we do at CBU," said Poole.

For more information about the rankings methodology, and full listings, please go to http://www.usnews.com/onlinemeth.

Founded in 1950, CBU is a private comprehensive institution located in Riverside, Calif. and affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention. Fall 2014 enrollment at CBU totaled 7,957 students enrolled in 72 bachelor degree programs with 150 major concentrations, and 25 master degree programs with 45 concentrations. CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, and the Consortium for Global Education. 

For more information on the U.S. News Top Online Education Program rankings, please visit http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education.