Best of 2014: Online BGS Ranking

It was a special year for UNO in 2014 with countless events, achievements, special guest visits and national recognitions for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

One of the university's biggest achievements comes from the continued success of the bachelor of general studies (BGS) program. The program has evolved from its earliest origins for returning veterans in 1951, to distance education courses in 1997, and to an online degree in 2007. The online BGS degree at UNO is one of the best in the nation.

U.S. News and World Report announced in early 2014 that the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) online Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is one of the top 20 bachelor’s programs in the United States.

Started in 1951, UNO's BGS Degree is one of the nation’s oldest bachelor’s degrees for adult learners, providing educational opportunities for working students, those serving overseas and many whom are returning to school to complete their degrees.

The BGS degree at UNO offers a high degree of flexibility. The ability to study across various fields of study, including unique programs such as behavioral health; civic leadership; criminology and criminal justice; fire service management; gerontology and nonprofit administration, offers students a broader range of specialty classes throughout their studies. Students choose courses and areas of study to meet individual career goals, prepare for graduate study, or satisfy personal interests and aspirations.

"The education students receive at UNO, through our Bachelor of General Studies program, is truly one of the best in the nation and this ranking reflects that," said John Bartle, Dean of UNO's College of Public Affairs and Community Service, which houses the BGS degree program. "The results are evident in the success of our alumni, which includes the current U.S. Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel."

UNO's ranking at No. 20 puts it among the top programs in the Midwest and the top program within the University of Nebraska system. The BGS program began offering distance education courses in 1997 and an online degree in 2007.

UNO’s online bachelor’s and masters degree programs are also co-marketed on University of Nebraska Online Worldwide, the university-wide distance education initiative that provides access to more than 100 online degree and certificate programs.

Fast Facts:

• UNO has graduated over 23,000 students from its Bachelor of General Studies program since 1951
• As part of its online course offerings, UNO provides live streaming audio and video; recorded audio and video; smartphone and tablet applications; and online labs
• UNO's BGS Degree offers 50 areas of specialization, 12 of which are fully-online programs
• UNO's BGS Degree was the first completely online degree program within the University of Nebraska system
• Over 280 institutions were included in the 2014 Best Online Degree Programs: Bachelor's rankings from U.S. News and World Report