The University of Nevada, Reno's College of Business received recognition this week from U.S. News & World Report as offering a top online graduate program in the country.

The College of Business' Online Executive MBA, offered in partnership with Extended Studies, was ranked No. 31 of 163 schools in the "Best Online MBA Programs" category.  

In this category, about 1,000 regionally accredited institutions were sent statistical questionnaires, and certain other conditions and definitions had to be met to be included in the final ranking. Criteria used to determine the final ranking included student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology. The University's Online Executive MBA received particularly high marks for faculty credentialing and training, which is defined as how well the schools prepare teachers to teach remotely.  

The 2016 Best Online MBA Programs ranking evaluates schools based solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs. This year, non-MBA graduate business degrees in areas such as finance, marketing and management have been assessed separately for a different ranking: Best Online Graduate Business Programs.  

The College of Business' Executive MBA Program meets the accreditation standards of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the highest attainable level of accreditation in business education.  

"We are incredibly proud of the Online Executive MBA program we have built in the College of Business," Kambiz Raffiee, the program's director and associate dean of the College of Business, said. "Top rankings from U.S. News & World Report continue to be a major milestone for the program. The hard work of the faculty, students and program administration have made this possible."  

For more information on the Online Executive MBA Program , visit www.emba.unr.edu.