OSU Institute of Technology’s School of Information Technologies has been recognized nationally by Best Value Schools and Cyberdegrees.com for its online Bachelor of Technology program.
The School of Information Technologies offers a Bachelor of Technology with three options— Network Infrastructure, Software Development or Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics— each offered online.
“The rankings and recognition validates what we already know. We have a program that meets the industry needs and does so at a great value and fully online delivery,” said Gene Leiterman, interim dean of the School of Information Technologies. “We hope that we can take our brand and utilize these rankings to recruit students throughout the region and nation.”
Best Value Schools and Cyberdegrees.com are both online resources for students interested in online degree programs in the fields of information technology and cybersecurity, respectively.
Best Value Schools ranked OSUIT No. 5 in its 2018 list of Best Online Colleges: Information Technology Degree Programs, highlighting the university’s partnerships with industry and 90 percent career placement rate.
The Best Value Schools rankings are determined by a combination of flexibility, faculty experience, success of graduates, options for financial aid and overall program quality.
“If students can leave school with a degree, a job and the least amount of debt then I see that as the best value,” Leiterman said.
Cyberdegrees.com included OSUIT in its list of 17 Best Schools with Online Forensics Programs.
Cybersecurity is a field of information technology that covers tools and systems that monitor, mitigate and prevent online threats from hackers, cyberterrorists, network outages and other issues that could compromise network security.
In its rankings, Cyberdegrees highlighted the Bachelor of Technology’s ABET accreditation and that the Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics degree option curriculum aligned with National Security Administration standards.
“We are hearing repeatedly from our partners and stakeholders that cybersecurity is the fastest growing segment within our industry. If we can graduate highly skilled students to serve this need, than we can feel good about positioning our school and students for the future,” he said. “We are constantly looking at ways to explore new relevant topics in cybersecurity in addition to developing relevant coursework in our other options as well.”
OSUIT’s emphasis on practical, hands-on coursework as well as the program’s affordability, scholarship availability and the university’s membership in the Yellow Ribbon Program, also contributed to its recognition on the Cyberdegrees list.