Excelsior College Named a Gold School of Distinction for Online Academic Excellence

Excelsior College was recognized as a Gold-Level School of Distinction by BestColleges.com, a leading provider of college planning resources and higher education research. This distinction recognizes colleges and universities that have dedicated themselves to developing quality online higher education programs. Of the over 3,500 eligible universities in the United States, more than 2,000 offer online degree programs, and of these schools, only 15 schools qualified for the Schools of Distinction gold medal.

Recipients of the Schools of Distinction represent the top 10 percent of all online colleges nationwide. To be considered, colleges and universities must be a two- or four-year accredited,
not-for-profit institution that offers online degree programs ranked on BestColleges.com’s program rankings. While all the schools that earned a Schools of Distinction award offer a
diverse selection of online programs, those that earned a gold standing consistently finish in the top three places on their respective rankings. Rankings developed by BestColleges.com are
grounded in statistical information gathered from a variety of sources, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Navigator, both of which are hosted
by the National Center for Education Statistics. “As online education continues to rise in popularity and more schools offer online programs in the United States, the Schools of Distinction list offers an in-depth look at the institutions that provide some of the best online academic programs for students in the country,” says Stephanie Snider, director of BestColleges.com. “One of these top schools includes Excelsior  College, who has been featured 35 times on BestColleges.com’s online program rankings. Of
these 35 online rankings, Excelsior has earned a position among the top three spots an impressive 10 times.”

The BestColleges.com distinction is the latest for Excelsior College. Excelsior ranked No. 3 on the Best for Vets: Colleges 2019 list of Online and Nontraditional Schools, as published by
Military Times. “This is quite an honor. Excelsior was founded nearly 50 years ago to help adults, many of them underserved by traditional education, earn a degree, and advance in their career. Through abstudent-first approach focused on providing working adults with the flexibility and support they need to juggle their family and career obligations with their academic study, Excelsior has provided a pathway for more than 172,000 graduates to achieve their educational dreams. We are proud of our work and will continue to keep student service at the core of everything we do,”
stated James N. Baldwin, president of Excelsior College.

To learn more about the Schools of Distinction designation, visit: http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/top-online-schools/schools-of-distinction/
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Media Contact: Alicia Jacobs
ajacobs@excelsior.edu (518) 464-8531

ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE
Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) is a regionally accredited, nonprofit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are – academically and geographically – removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity. Learn more at excelsior.edu.