June 17, 2024
Wheeling University’s MEL Program Ranked One of the Best in the U.S. by Forbes Education
WHEELING, W.Va., June 17 – Forbes Education has ranked Wheeling University’s Master of Arts in Education: Education Leadership (MEL) degree as one of the best 10 online programs in the nation for 2024.
Dianna Vargo, Ed.D., Chief Operations Officer, and Chair of Education Programs, said, Wheeling University’s MEL program offers students the flexibility to continue working while earning an advanced degree in as little as one year. The 33-credit graduate program offers multiple start dates.
“This recognition is a tribute to the faculty who guide our students on their educational journey,” Dr. Vargo said.
The MEL program was developed in 2010 by Dr. Connie Myer, former director of the Education Program and a current adjunct faculty member in the program. Assisting her with the implementation of the program were Dr. H. Lawrence Jones and Dr. Bonnie Ritz.
MEL candidates may choose one of two tracks offered through the online program: School and System Leadership, which leads to licensure as a school principal, curriculum supervisor or school system superintendent; and Instructional Leadership, which is geared toward teacher leaders.
Vargo said that students complete two residency placements in their school districts that allows them to learn in a real-world setting. Additionally, the program relies on experienced and committed instructors who are current or former school administrators.
Forbes Education uses an objective methodology to score and rank institutions. The rankings provide readers with well-informed, unbiased ranking. Forbes scored 253 accredited, non-profit colleges offering master’s in educational leadership program from across the country. To score each of the colleges and universities, Forbes used 16 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience and application process. The ranking service pulled this data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS); private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.
Wheeling University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and is fully accredited by AAQEP and the West Virginia Department of Education.
To learn more about Wheeling University’s MEL ranking by Forbes Education, click this link.