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The Naveen Jindal School of Management was ranked by U.S. News & World Report based on a number of benchmark statistics, as well as peer assessments submitted by other schools.

UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management online graduate programs have established themselves as among the best in the nation, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report that put them in the top 10.

Released Tuesday, the 2013 Best Online Education Program Rankings show the Jindal School in ninth place overall in the country. The rankings were based on JSOM responses to a statistical questionnaire as well as peer assessments submitted by other schools.

“It is gratifying that deans and faculty members at other universities have noticed how much work we have put into making our online programs top-notch,” JSOM Dean Hasan Pirkul said.

Larry Chasteen

Dr. Larry Chasteen is  director of JSOM's Professional Online MBA program.

Dr. Larry Chasteen, director of JSOM’s Professional Online MBA program, said the new rankings are valuable in large part because the data collection is focused on information about online programs only. “This is a measure of how well those of us who work in the electronic classroom have gotten at delivering a quality education,” he said.

Dr. Monica Powell, JSOM associate dean for graduate programs, has conducted  her own student surveys to gauge their expectations of the business school. Her surveys show  rising interest in online options. “I’m glad my surveys uncovered this trend — and that the Jindal School is doing well in answering the demand,” Powell said.

Besides MBA programs, the Jindal School offers master’s degrees online in accounting, information technology and management, and management and administrative sciences.

U.S. News collected data between the summer and fall of 2012. Statistical input on students and faculty covered July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. Surveys were sent to 959 regionally accredited institutions that offered master’s degrees in business. Replies came from 628 schools, a response rate of 65 percent.

Factors measured in the rankings survey included student engagement — a gauge not only of class participation but also of instructor responsiveness — admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, students services and technology.

Responses to the reputation survey were weighted and linked to responses in the statistical questionnaire. For instance, statistical components of student engagement, which counted for 28 percent of a rankings score, included retention and graduate rates, class size and best practices, accreditation and time-to-degree deadlines.

Weighted results in each category were linked to point values; point totals were tabulated to determine an overall score. Theoretically, the highest possible score was 100. In reality, the No. 1 school, Washington State University, achieved a score of 73. The Jindal School score was 65.8.