Bryant’s online master’s in business program took two spots on the podium in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (Non-MBA) rankings, finishing first in the country in the category of Student Excellence and third nationally for Student Services and Technology.
Overall, Bryant was ranked 53rd and counted among the top 25 percent of U.S. online business master’s programs. The rankings applied to the institution’s Online MS in Taxation, MS in Actuarial Science, and MS in Applied AI programs.
“These U.S. News & World Report rankings validate Bryant’s approach to developing and delivering online programs,” says Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., Bryant’s provost and chief academic officer. “From the beginning, our focus has been on the quality of learning, experiences, and outcomes — aligned with Bryant’s established reputation for excellence and personal attention — to help graduates achieve their academic and professional goals.”
Other criteria used in determining the rankings were Peer Assessment, Engagement, and Faculty Credentials and Training.
First time, first place
The strong showing was especially gratifying considering that this was the first time Bryant submitted an entry for the rankings, says Alex M. Cole, Ed.D., Bryant’s executive director of Graduate and Professional Education. The Online MS in Taxation and MS in Actuarial Science programs were just established in 2023, and the MS in Applied AI debuted in 2025, so this was the first year that there was enough supporting data to enter the rankings, Cole explains.
“We submitted because we felt confident in what we’ve built: programs that are academically strong, workforce-aligned, and taught by faculty practitioners doing the work," says Cole. "To come in number 53 overall and in the Top 25 percent in our first submission is something we’re really proud of. Being number one in Student Excellence comes down to the caliber of the students choosing Bryant and what they bring to the classroom. It’s also a credit to the faculty and staff who deliver our online experience every day.”
Student Patrick Haley ’26MST agrees. “What really stood out to me in Bryant’s M.S. in Taxation program was the people at the front of the room,” he says. “The professors weren’t just excellent teachers, they were seasoned practitioners who’d clearly spent years in the trenches with real clients, complex entities, and messy fact patterns.”
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Bryant’s top ranking for student excellence was based on the institution’s work in building a student body with proven aptitudes, ambitions and accomplishments that can handle the demands of rigorous coursework, according to the award criteria.
"To come in number 53 overall and in the Top 25 percent in our first submission is something we’re really proud of. Being number one in Student Excellence comes down to the caliber of the students choosing Bryant and what they bring to the classroom. It’s also a credit to the faculty and staff who deliver our online experience every day.”
Factored into the scoring were students’ undergraduate GPA, the program’s acceptance rate, and an “experience” index based upon the extent to which work experience and undergraduate business coursework are required for admittance; whether applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation; and the percentage of new entrants who are sponsored or whose tuition is subsidized by an employer.
Cole says most students in these programs are mid-career professionals; a majority did not attend Bryant as undergraduates, which speaks to the growing reputation of the institution’s online programs and its ability to attract high-performing students. The MS in Actuarial Science program, for example, has enrolled students from as far as Texas and California.
“It’s one of the only online actuarial science degree programs that exists, and that has helped spread awareness of the Bryant experience across the country,” says Cole.
Tech investment and integration pays off
Bryant’s strong performance in the Student Services and Technology category highlights some of the unique aspects of the program, such as building strong connections with faculty through live chats throughout the course and assigning a dedicated advisor to every online student, he says.
“We have a really high-touch experience,” according to Cole. “The technology that's available to students is also really strong; we developed asynchronous video and audio so that our online experience isn't just students sitting at a computer typing papers — they’re interacting with each other through multimedia sources."
In addition to earning recognition for its business master's degree programming, Bryant earlier this was ranked 33rd in the nation — placing in the top 10 percent — for its online MBA in 2026 by U.S. News & World Report. Cole says rankings are "incredibly important but they're ultimately a reflection of all the hard work that goes into these programs every day."
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"We're in the top 25 percent [for non-MBA programs], and that's a good start, but I'm confident that as we continue to grow these programs we'll continue to rise," Cole adds. “We're going to have more graduates coming out of those programs soon. We know that the outcomes data is there. We're continuing to attract a diverse array of students. And the academic quality of our program speaks for itself."