About UAkron Online
Why UAkron Online?
High-Quality Accredited Programs
The University of Akron has been at the forefront of online course development for over a decade, adhering to rigorous, research-based standards to ensure quality online learning experiences for our students. We utilize the nationally recognized Quality Matters rubric to align courses with objectives, foster learner engagement, and employ appropriate tools for an enriching learning environment. These standards are deeply ingrained in our course development process, from technical workshops to pedagogical seminars. With over 40 online courses meeting national quality standards, UA stands as a leader in Ohio, dedicated to delivering exceptional online education. Learn more about Quality Matters.
Points of Pride
- No. 1 Undergraduate business school in Northeast Ohio (Poets and Quants), No. 5 online MBA program in the U.S. (onlinemastersdegree.org)
- World’s first accredited emergency management and homeland security bachelor’s degree program (offered online)
- Forbes ranked our online Speech Language Pathology program as one of the top 4 programs in the country
- No. 1 university in the world for polymer science and engineering (edurank.com)
- College of Business is in the 1% of schools worldwide offering business degrees that are doubly accredited in business and accounting, according to AACSB International
- Princeton Review Best Regional Colleges (Midwest)
- Top 10 best colleges and universities in Ohio (academicinfluence.com)
- 2023 Best Value College in Ohio Award (research.com)
- College of Business is in the 1% of schools worldwide offering business degrees that are doubly accredited in business and accounting, according to AACSB International
YOU BELONG HERE
Our goal is simple: to help you succeed. The University of Akron provides support to online learners throughout your tenure at the university. From your first inquiry about a program to your final semester, student services staff members are consistently on hand to guide, advise and assist you. When you complete your degree as an Akron Zip, you will join a global network of more than 170,000 alumni.
Student Success
As an online student, you have access to all the resources available to all students, including advising, career services, our library (with vast online assets), tutoring, financial aid and help-desk support.
Learn more about the resources available to online learners, as well as strategies for success and the tools we use: The Learning Experience at UAkron Online
More:
Career Prepared
What if you could enhance your academic degree and stand out from the competition in today's job market? In addition to your degree, we offer UA students complimentary access to the Coursera Career Academy.
Acquire real-world job skills from companies such as IBM, Google, Meta, Salesforce and more. Learn more
Flexible Delivery
UAkron Online programs offers flexibility to balance your family, work and school responsibilities. Courses are designed to be completed when your schedule permits.
Need help? Our programs are hosted in Brightspace. You can call Brightspace support, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year at 1-877-325-7778 or use the Live Chat inside Brightspace.
World-class Faculty
All UAkron Online courses are taught by the same, high-quality, faculty who teach our in-person programs and courses. 35 current UA faculty in top two percent of scientists worldwide within their specialty areas (Stanford University).
State authorization for online courses
The University of Akron has been approved by by The Ohio Department of Higher Education to participate to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is an agreement among member states that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.
A university that has been approved to participate in SARA may offer distance education programs to students in other SARA member states. Importantly, these institutions have met several requirements that help ensure their quality and student consumer protections, including:
- The institution is a degree-granting institution, appropriately authorized (by Congress, a U.S. state, territory or district, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) to award associate degrees or higher.
- The institution is institutionally accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and whose scope of recognition, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, includes distance education.
- The institution agrees that, in cases where the institution cannot fully deliver the instruction for which a student has contracted, it will provide a reasonable alternative for delivering the instruction or reasonable financial compensation for the education the student did not receive.
Per participation in NC-SARA, The University of Akron is authorized to offer our online programs in all states except California for most programs. For California we may be able to offer some programs.
If your program has a licensure or field experience component, please contact admissions at 330-972-6427 for more information.
What responsibilities do students have around state authorization?
As a student, it is your responsibility to notify program staff if you are planning to move to another state. Program staff will work with you to determine if the university is authorized to offer your program in your new state and whether the program meets state educational requirements for licensure, if applicable.
If you have questions about a program in your state, please contact the Office of Admissions, at 330-972-7100 or email admissions@bongobaystudios.com.
What else should I do about state authorization?
- If you are choosing a program that requires licensure, contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state where you intend to work to verify the most up-to-date licensure requirements before beginning your program.
- Check with your program’s internship or clinical coordinator prior to beginning an internship or field experience in a state other than Ohio to ensure The University of Akron is authorized to operate in that state.
- Students in on-ground programs that traditionally lead to licensure should also determine whether you intend to live in Ohio. If not, you should work with your program's coordinator to determine if the program will lead to licensure in the state where you intend to seek a license.
Professional Licensure Information
If you live outside Ohio and are considering enrolling in an online program that leads to a professional license or certification, we highly encourage you to contact the appropriate state licensing agency in your state or the state in which you intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before enrolling in the program. The University of Akron makes every effort to ensure licensure information is current; however, licensure regulations change frequently.
Complaint Resolution
The University has established a procedure for you to resolve academic differences. United States Department of Education Federal Integrity Rules stipulate that The University of Akron must provide current and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with relevant agencies. To learn more about the complaint resolution process and to find the contacts for your state, please review this: Resolving Academic Differences.