Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) was again listed in the Best Online Programs rankings by U.S. News & World Report released in January 2026.
SMWC’s online programs are ranked in four areas: Best Online Bachelor’s Program, Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (excluding MBA), Best Online MBA Programs and Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.
SMWC was one of just 11 colleges in Indiana to be listed in the bachelor’s rankings.
“We are a pioneer in distance education and are proud to be recognized as one of the top online programs again,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We place a large emphasis on ensuring that what we do on campus mirrors what we do in our undergraduate online programs. We are successful because of our ability to weave technology, faculty accessibility and meaningful interaction into all of our programs.”
This year marks the 53rd year for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s distance learning program, making Woods Online (WOL) the second-oldest program in the country. The College and its WOL program have been leaders and innovators in college online learning. SMWC offers 12 bachelor’s programs online, including Human Resource Management, Psychology, Education and Paramedic to Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
There are several start dates for Woods Online, including August, October, January, March and May. Classes are designed in an eight-week format to help students complete their degrees quickly. The College’s transfer-friendly policy helps students use credits already earned to count toward their degree.
For more information on how to enroll in Woods Online, email admissions@smwc.edu.