Bay Path University Ranked as Top School For Online Degrees in Psychology
Longmeadow, MA– Bay Path University has been ranked as one of the year’s best schools for online degrees in various areas of psychology by the resource group STEPS, Student Training & Education in Public Service. Unlike most academic ranking organizations, STEPS is a group of experts representing various public service professions. The group is dedicated to connecting students with advice and resources that lead to degrees and careers in public service. Just under six percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. earned a ranking position.
Most notably, STEPS ranked Bay Path fourth in the nation for its online bachelor’s program in forensic psychology. In addition to meeting STEPS criteria for affordability, support and academic quality, Bay Path offers undergraduates majoring in forensic psychology the option of taking two graduate-level courses, giving them a head start on earning a graduate degree from the school’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program.
“Bay Path’s online forensic psychology program is an extension of our longtime traditional forensic psych program,” notes Michelle McGrath, senior director of psychology programs at The American Women’s College, Bay Path’s online program.
“Our years of experience with this specific major, plus the combination of support, technology and high-quality instruction embedded in our online degree programs strongly positioned us to create an accessible, applicable, online forensic psychology program. We’re so pleased to be recognized with these rankings.”
Bay Path also ranked 40th for its online bachelor’s in psychology degree and 22nd for its Master’s psychology programs.
STEPS analyzed multiple datasets from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as well as data collected from the schools themselves. Key data points used to identify top schools included: number of online programs in a given subject area, tuition and fees per academic year, percentage of students receiving institutional financial aid, existence of academic counseling, and offering of career placement services.
STEPS vetted an estimated 7,700 postsecondary institutions to create its rankings. To qualify, a college or university must hold active regional accreditation from an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education and have at least one partially online program in psychology.
“Bay Path is one of the few colleges today prioritizing online learning to meet student demand,” said Kyle Smith, a Community Outreach Specialist at STEPS. "Adding online programs also promotes diversity in higher education, opening doors to those who may not have easy access to a campus-based classroom.”
This ranking comes at a time when enrollment in online degree programs is on the rise. A recent study from market research company, Technavio, found that online higher education has the potential to grow by 20 percent over the next four years.
About STEPS
STEPS started in 2019 with the goal of connecting students with valuable and informative resources to help them get their degrees and find satisfying careers in public service. These free guides range from connecting students with online schools to breaking down options for affording a degree.
About Bay Path University
Bay Path University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main) and East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Bay Path’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 30 graduate programs for women and men, including doctoral degrees. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.