Montclair State University has received recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings. The university’s online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership was ranked No. 5 nationally, an improvement from its previous position at No. 14 in 2025.
For the first time, Montclair State University appeared in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs category, ranking at No. 56. This reflects the institution’s expanded offerings for online undergraduate degree completion, which now include Business Administration, Economics, Family Science and Human Development, Liberal Studies, Nursing RN to BSN, and Psychology.
The university’s online graduate business programs also saw improved recognition. Its Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (non-MBA) were ranked No. 53 nationally, up from No. 61 last year. These programs include online Master of Science degrees in Business Analytics, Digital Marketing Analytics, and Human Resource Analytics.
Other Montclair State University programs featured in the rankings include its Online MBA Program at No. 107 and its Online Master’s in Nursing Program at No. 62.
Marc Austin, vice provost and managing director of Montclair Unbound said: “Montclair Online makes everything around learning as simple as possible, from applying, to navigating coursework, to getting student support when questions come up,” adding: “These U.S. News rankings reflect the work behind the scenes to deliver a high-quality online experience that’s engaging, well-supported and designed for student success. Students should be able to focus on the hard work of study; we streamline the rest.”
U.S. News & World Report bases its program rankings on five categories: student engagement; services and technologies; student excellence; faculty credentials and training; and academic expert opinions across more than 1,800 primarily online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered by regionally accredited institutions.
