The University of Texas at Arlington is among the top 50 universities in the nation for earning a master's degree in education or nursing online, according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Graduate Programs rankings for 2015.

UT Arlington's College of Education online program ranked No. 30 among 252 schools surveyed, a marked improvement from its 166th position last year when 238 schools were surveyed. UT Arlington's College of Nursing and Health Innovation online program ranked No. 31 among 133 schools surveyed, up 34 spots from last year.

"These achievements underscore the commitment of extraordinary faculty and staff who continue to innovate and deliver exceptional curriculum to graduate students whether in the physical or virtual classroom," said President Vistasp M. Karbhari, who also noted a record year for enrollment at UT Arlington, which saw tremendous gains in its online programs.

For the fall 2014 semester, the number of Texas students on campus and online rose 4.8 percent to 34,899 students. That marked a 65 percent gain in enrollment from fall 2001. Total enrollment, including online students outside Texas, will exceed 41,000 this academic year.

Much of the growth has been driven by the University's successful translation of proven curriculum developed by faculty on campus to stellar online degree programs. UT Arlington's portfolio of online programs has expanded access to college for students around the world.

The U.S. News online graduate education ranking is based on five categories: student engagement (35 percent), student services and technology (20 percent), faculty credentials and training (15 percent) admissions selectivity (15 percent), and peer reputation (15 percent).

Data was collected from questionnaires to regionally accredited public, private and for-profit institutions that granted master's degrees in education. Respondents were asked if they would be offering a master's in education degree program through Internet-based distance education courses in the 2014-2015 academic year. Read more about the methodology here: www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/education-methodology?int=a39609.

The online graduate nursing ranking is based on student engagement (30 percent), faculty credentials and training (25 percent), peer reputation (20 percent), student services and technology (15 percent), and admissions selectivity (10 percent).

Data was collected from questionnaires given to public, private and for-profit institutions granting master's degrees in nursing that were accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Read more about the methodology here: www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/nursing-methodology.

U.S. News & World Report has previously named UT Arlington's online education and engineering graduate programs among the best in the nation. Additional online programs are offered through the Master of Public Administration, and the School of Social Work.