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Tyler Hansen

Tyler Hansen is a writer for Oregon State University Ecampus. He primarily writes feature stories on the Oregon State students and faculty who learn and teach online, news stories and articles that provide readers with the information they need to continue their educational journeys. Prior to starting at Oregon State in 2011, he worked as a sports writer, journalism teacher and arts and entertainment editor. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona.
Hope Nelson, an Oregon State University alum, stands outside in commencement cap and gown with a blue sash that says veteran.

Oregon State Ecampus secures grant funding to help veterans who learn online with housing costs

Thanks to a state grant, Oregon State Ecampus is offering assistance to some military veterans in Oregon who learn online but receive significantly less GI Bill housing support than students enrolled in on-campus instruction. The new funding will support military veteran students studying online at OSU in fields related to technology, health care or manufacturing. In Oregon, a full-time online student who receives Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits gets $1,015 less in monthly housing allowance than an on-campus student.

Scenic image of the black entrance sign to Oregon State University with trees in the background

Oregon State ranked top 10 nationally for best online degrees for 9th straight year

Bolstered by the expertise of the faculty who develop and teach classes online, Oregon State has earned another top ranking from U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best providers of online education. OSU ranks No. 8 in the category of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2023, marking the university’s ninth consecutive year in the top 10. That’s a claim no other public institution in the country can make.

Graphic with 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Bachelor's Programs badge and the words Top 10 again for nine straight years.

Explaining Oregon State’s top-10 ranking for best online bachelor’s degrees

Oregon State Ecampus is ranked No. 8 in the nation for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report. But what does the ranking mean in terms of a student’s online learning experience? We dig into the criteria that determines the ranking and explain why Oregon State ranks highly.

A U.S. Navy military uniform with badges and patches on the breast and sleeves.

Oregon State Ecampus director working to update GI Bill to benefit online students

The GI Bill is in need of an update to better serve all college students, says Shannon Riggs, an executive director at Oregon State Ecampus. As a panel presenter at the Council of College and Military Educators annual symposium, she will explain how military veterans who learn exclusively online receive significantly less in Monthly Housing Allowance than on-campus students.

An instructor stands behind a transparent white board and points to a series of math equations.

How to choose the best school for online degrees

At Oregon State Ecampus, we’ve devoted 20+ years to infusing every online course with the level of quality you deserve. But what do we mean by “quality”? It’s an important question to ask (and answer), so here are five specific things to look for as you evaluate the quality of an institution’s online learning experience.

A person sits at a table while holding a book in their left hand and using an open laptop computer with their right hand.

Leading in the world’s new education landscape

Oregon State Ecampus associate provost Lisa L. Templeton shares her insights on why the professional, continuing and online (PCO) education community is uniquely positioned to lead in the world’s new education landscape. That begins by creating pathways to more affordable learning experiences and alternative credentials.

3 reasons to earn a business and communications microcredential online

The field of business and communications is rapidly evolving. And employers need people with the relevant and in-demand skills to meet organizational needs. Enter: microcredentials. In a few short courses, you can gain skills in business and communications and earn a digital badge to signify to employers your unique skills.

5 lessons learned from developing and launching microcredentials online

Oregon State Ecampus spearheaded the university’s initiative to develop and launch microcredentials, which are for-credit sequences that consist of at least three courses and 8 credits. While all internal OSU partners were highly supportive, it was somewhat challenging for a four-year public institution that has offered traditional credentials for more than 150 years. Here are five lessons learned from the experience.

Taking wildlife research to the next level with online data analytics master’s program

Brent Wolf is a wildlife research biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He’s also a student in Oregon State’s online data analytics master’s program. He was drawn to the program as a way to get a leg up in his current role, and so far it has paid off. “Going for the M.S. in Data Analytics has opened some doors for me that were previously closed,” he said.

Oregon State Everywhere: ‘Consider where you want to go, not where you are’

Justin Nelson says the topics covered in Oregon State’s online environmental sciences master’s degree program are ideal for helping students who want to change careers “break into new markets and industries.” Earning a professional science master’s led Justin to a new role working in corporate sustainability strategy.