SAINT LEO, Fla. — U.S. News & World Report ranked Saint Leo University on two of its Best Online Programs lists. The school came in 69th on the list of best online bachelor’s degree programs and 43rd on the list of best online bachelor’s degree programs for veterans.
- University began offering online courses 20 years ago this month
- Of nearly 12,000 total enrolled students, only 2,000 attend classes on campus in 2019
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“Saint Leo has always been a strong supporter of students, the adult learner earning their degree, being where they are, having flexible options for students who just can’t make it to campus or make it to a physical location,” said Shadel Hamilton, the school’s associate vice president of student affairs.
Student Timothy Robinson said he chose Saint Leo’s online program for a number of reasons: he was impressed by the criminal justice program, he liked the fact that it’s a Catholic university, and it’s where he began his college education before joining the U.S. Navy.
“The way that they teach and their core values, I think, are what helps complement your education and give you a way of practically applying some of the things you learn,” said Robinson.
Robinson is on active duty at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and recently completed the online bachelor’s program. He’s now working towards his master’s degree in Saint Leo’s online program.
“I’m in the Navy, I’m married, I have a four-year-old son, I’ve got a dog. I have a lot of responsibilities that I have to take care of, but going to school online, it’s good because you can kind of work at your own pace,” Robinson said.
Pioneer in online learning
Saint Leo began offering online courses 20 years ago last month. The school counts itself among the first universities to embrace online learning.
The school was dealing with serious financial struggles at the time – enrollment was down, deficits were mounting, and salaries were depressed.
“He tells stories about every building on the university campus had a leak,” Hamilton said of Kirk. “Online education wasn’t as it is today. So, he was taking a risk. It was an initial investment that he went into the online field, and it’s really paid dividends for us.”
Total enrollment the first year online courses were offered was 7,518. That’s increased to nearly 12,000 today.
Hamilton said only about 2,000 of those students attend classes at the main campus. The rest are enrolled in various online programs or education centers. They come from all 50 states and multiple countries.
“It’s been a concerted effort by the university in making an investment in our students and wanting our students who attend online to have the same experience that our students here on campus and at our physical locations and at our physical locations throughout the country,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton said that effort has included updating and adding to online clubs and organizations.
“That’s a good way of networking,” said Robinson. “I wanted to be involved somehow with the school, so I thought you definitely learn a lot more, too.”
Saint Leo jumped nearly 20 spots on the online bachelor’s program list and eight on the veteran’s program list from the previous year.