The university’s online MBA program was rated among the “Best Online Graduate Business Programs” in the nation by U.S. News and World Report on Tuesday. The program is ranked No. 34 this year, moving up two spots from 2015.

The rankings are based on student involvement, admissions selectivity, peer notoriety, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology. All institutions of higher learning with online master’s of business administration programs and at least 10 enrolled students were included in the assessment.

The program, which has 87 students, takes 23 months to complete.

The College of Business and the College of Agricultural Sciences will offer an agribusiness economics concentration starting this summer, according to an SIU news release. SIU is one of less than 10 public universities in the nation to offer an “MBA concentration in agribusiness designed for professionals interested in career advancement in this growing field,” according to the press release.

Shannon Allen can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3325.