Two of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s online master’s degree programs have been recognized as “best in the country” by OnlineMasters.com, an independent higher education research platform specializing in online graduate education.
IUP’s master’s in health services administration and IUP’s master’s in math education programs were ranked 15th in the nation. Editors used data-driven methodology to evaluate accredited online master’s programs throughout the nation, focusing on four core factors: academic quality, graduation outcomes, cost and return on investment, and student support resources.
The evaluation process incorporates data from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, National Center for Education Statistics Navigator, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, College Board, and aggregated performance indicators from recognized ranking organizations such as U.S. News & World Report.
IUP’s master’s degree in health services administration is part of the Department of Hospitality and Employment Relation in the Eberly College of Business. It offers advanced education and training in health policy but is focused on people management and employment law. The program can be completed in 12 months, is available both full- and part-time, and evening and includes evening, on-line or in-person classes. It is open to students from all undergraduate backgrounds; healthcare education or experience is not required. Students may start in any semester.
The university’s master’s degree in mathematics education is part of IUP’s Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences in the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The program is designed around current research in best practices for teaching mathematics and focuses on making essential connections between the mathematics being studied and the mathematics graduates will teach. The program offers specializations in secondary mathematics education and elementary and middle-level mathematics education.
This recognition follows U.S. News & World Report’s selection of IUP’s doctoral programs in education for its 2026 “best graduate schools” rankings. These programs are a Doctor of Education degree in administration and leadership studies and a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, both housed in IUP’s Department of Professional Studies in Education.
U.S. News & World Report also recently selected IUP’s criminology, nursing, and education programs for its 2026 Best Online Programs ranking.
IUP is the only member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education selected for the 2025 Opportunity College and University-Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, which recognizes institutions with graduates who earn salaries that are 50 percent above (or more) than their peers in similar fields and institutions providing access to students that reflect the communities that they serve.
IUP has a longstanding commitment to research on all levels and in all disciplines. In spring 2025, IUP earned an R2 Doctoral University–High Spending and Doctorate Production classification from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in its 2025 Research Activity designations, one of only two public universities in Pennsylvania and one of only 97 public universities with this ranking nationwide. IUP first received the R2 ranking in 2022.
Only six universities in Pennsylvania hold the R2 status, and only 139 universities in the United States have the R2 status. More than 3,900 colleges and universities are included in the ranking system.
IUP is routinely selected by national publications and websites for excellence. In January, IUP earned national and regional recognition from Research.com, ranking as a top college in the US, the Northeast, and among the top nine in Pennsylvania for quality, affordability, and value.
IUP has been included in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking for more than 25 years. Magazine editors evaluate institutions based on independent data sources, including the US Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
IUP is included in the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges 2026, which recognizes IUP’s commitment to student success, individualized support, and the diversity and welcoming environment of the IUP community.
In addition to U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges guidebook, IUP has been listed in College Magazine’s top 10 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, in Washington Monthly’s national ranking of universities based on contributions to society, in Forbes Magazine as one of “America’s Top Colleges,” as the number two most affordable college in Pennsylvania by Academic Influence, and in a number of national rankings for excellence and affordability of online programs.
IUP offers 100 academic majors, more than 60 graduate programs, and more than 40 graduate degrees. In addition, students can complete more than 70 minors—including a unique teamwork minor—and scores of specialized tracks and certificate programs, including certificates in athletic coaching, photography and digital imaging, popular music, geospatial intelligence, and public history.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary during the 2025-2026 academic year and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence.