01100100 01100101 01100111 01110010 01100101 01100101.

In binary code, those zeros and ones spell the word “degree.” Slippery Rock University is continuing to follow a national trend in online degrees, and it's also receiving national recognition.

SRU made the cut for U.S. News and World Report's list of 2019 Best Online Programs. SRU ranked No. 166 of the 400 ranked schools with 1,500 in contention.

U.S. News & World Report assessed more than 1,500 online programs, evaluating several factors — including graduation rates, faculty credentials and support services available remotely — to rank the best online bachelor's degree programs.

Its ranking also makes the school the ninth highest-ranked in Pennsylvania behind Pennsylvania State, Robert Morris and Clarion universities, which were the top three ranked schools in the Keystone State.

Amanda Yale, associate provost for enrollment services, said the acknowledgment gives credibility and validation to the development of SRU's programs.

“I think the ranking told us that the hard work that the faculty and administration has put forward in developing this high quality set of degree programs was confirmed by the U.S. News ranking,” she said.

According to Yale, there are 270 students who can receive bachelor's degrees in the following: interdisciplinary bachelor of science in leadership studies, philanthropy and nonprofit management and liberal arts; bachelor of science in business administration in management; and bachelor of science in nursing.

Yale said the online degree completion programs are geared for and target the busy adult non-traditional student.

“They are typically the full-time worker out there, maybe with a family, who never got to complete that degree,” she said.

Yale said the only snag would be for those seeking a degree in nursing, which requires certification as a registered nurse to participate in the program.

Yale said there are a number of reasons that non-traditional students pursue an online bachelor's degree. She said most applicants already have some college-level education and credits that transfer into the program they've selected. She said some dream of a bigger role, while others are looking for a different direction.

“It's not just advancing where they are, but it may be changing their career,” Yale said.

Betsy Stevens, associate director of transfer articulation in the transfer admissions office, said students with associate's degrees are especially inclined to upgrade through an online program.

“These are excellent opportunities for community college students,” Stevens said. “We're very flexible with our transfer credits and where they're placed.”

Stevens said SRU's flexibility also makes it easy for those who left a four-year program unfinished, whether at SRU or another university. However, she said that SRU students have the advantage.

“They're our students, and we could readmit them,” she said.

Stevens said online programs help combat the high costs of college, especially for students bringing credits from past schooling.

“It provides such an affordable options for students, particularly those who have one to two years of that degree finished already, especially from a community-college level program,” she said. “I think we started a really good thing here and, hopefully, it'll grow even more.”

Yale said strong support on multiple levels has made the programs successful.

Yale said one of the faculty's top priorities was to bring their best experience to the digital realm, starting with the teachers.

She said professors of online courses undergo extra training, enabling them to better serve students in an online classroom setting.

“Incredibly important here are faculty credentials and training,” Yale said. “The same faculty who are teaching our courses on campus are the ones who are teaching online.”

But online learning isn't the mirror image of a traditional classroom.

Yale said that even more important than what Slippery Rock can offer the students is what the student brings to the university.

“This has to be an individual who is motivated and has a goal for themselves,” she said.

She said the right motivated student, traditional or non-traditional, can make their dreams a reality.

“We find with these working adults. They have a story,” Yale said. “They have families they have work, they have busy schedules, and these kinds of opportunities give them a chance to improve themselves.”