05/15/2026
Two of SUNY Cortland’s online master’s degree programs have been named among the best in the nation for 2026 by OnlineMasters.com.
The high rankings included:
- 15th in Best Online Master’s in English Language Learning Degree Programs for its second language education: teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) program.
- 21st in Best Online Master’s in Reading and Literacy Degree Programs for its literacy education program.
“We believe that literacy can transform a child’s life,” said Gillian Mertens, assistant professor and graduate coordinator for the Literacy Department. “And we want to support teachers in becoming a change-maker for their students.”
The rankings website, which describes itself as an independent higher education research platform specializing in online graduate education, evaluated more than 2,000 accredited institutions in coming up with its rankings.
Data used for analysis of the schools came from the federal Department of Education, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, College Board, institutional statistics and established ranking organizations, including U.S. News & World Report.
Judged categories for each program were:
Academic quality
- Comparison of acceptance rates to enrollment trends
- First-year retention rates
- Institutional and program-level accreditation
- Nonprofit status for both private and public institutions
Graduation outcomes
- Schoolwide graduation rate
- Enrollment size and demographic representation
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Program cost and return on investment
- Tuition and fee structures for in-state and out-of-state students
- Total credit requirements for program completion
- Projected career earnings associated with the degree.
- Availability of federal aid, scholarships and other funding options
Student support and learning resources
- Services designed for online or hybrid learners
- Access to tutoring centers, academic support hubs and campus libraries
Both Hongli Fan, associate professor of modern languages and graduate coordinator for TESOL, and Mertens stressed flexibility, real-world relevance and community as core tenets of their respective programs. They believe those principles allow students, who are often current or future educators, to effectively learn outside traditional school hours.
“Because most of our students are full-time teachers from a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas, they need flexibility to complete graduate coursework on their own schedules while having opportunities to meaningfully engage with their instructors and classmates,” Fan said.
The Literacy Department began revising literacy education into an online program in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the faculty used the necessity of online learning to further transfer student work to the new format.
Similarly, TESOL began expanding online access in 2018 before moving fully online for the 2020-21 academic year, resulting in what Fan described as a program that emphasizes meaningful interaction and feedback.
“Students bring diverse teaching experiences to their coursework, enriching perspectives for all participants under the guidance of faculty committed to their success and professional growth,” she said.
It was a sentiment shared by Mertens.
“Our students enter our program with the goal of advancing their knowledge and expertise to help K-12 students improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening and creative skills,” said Mertens.
She noted that anyone who spends time in New York state schools is likely to meet a literacy specialist from SUNY Cortland.
“We meet the students where they are by providing them with a program comprised of in-depth courses focused on all areas of literacy as well as the theoretical underpinnings of literacy teaching,” Mertens said.
These latest honors follow other recognition of the university’s online education programs, including rankings that placed Cortland among the best and most affordable in the state, and individual accolades for the Sport Management Department.