BROOKINGS (KELO AM) - South Dakota State University's online mass communication master's degree was ranked as the 2015 Best Online Communication Master's Degree by GraduatePrograms.com.Offered by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, the online-only master of mass communication program was approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents in May 2013. This graduate degree is designed specifically for working midcareer professionals in the fields of journalism, advertising and public relations.GraduatePrograms.com assigns 15 ranking categories to each program at each graduate school. Rankings cover a variety of student topics, such as academic competitiveness, career support, financial aid and quality of network. South Dakota State scored a 9.69 out of 10 points, scoring a perfect 10 in 11 categories."It is especially gratifying to be rated so high in such areas as academic competitiveness, program value and student diversity. We already knew that affordability, education quality, and faculty accessibility and support were strong points," said Lyle Olson, graduate program coordinator. "We are very pleased because we work diligently to maintain a practical and relevant curriculum for our primarily nontraditional MMC students."A 2015 South Dakota State University online communications grad student submitted the following to GraduatePrograms.com: "I feel like this school has an amazing graduate program. I am learning a lot, my professors are accessible and I feel like I am getting a quality education."There are approximately 35 students pursuing master of mass communication degrees."I think one of the keys to our program's success is our focus on the professional skills that the mass communication industry has demanded in recent years," Rocky Dailey, an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and the online MMC program adviser. "When you combine that with our professional faculty and the ability to complete the program online, it becomes a very attractive option for those looking for a professional master's program in mass communication."State's online program received the 2014 University Professional & Continuing Education Association Central Region Innovative Program Award.GraduatePrograms.com reaches current and recent graduate students through scholarship entries as well as social media platforms. The program rankings cover a period from Sept. 1, 2012, to March 31, 2015.