The popularity of online education is rapidly expanding, according to a new report.
The report, titled “Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States in 2009,” found that more than 4.6 million college students were taking at least one online course at the start of the 2008-2009 school year. That is a 17 percent increase from the previous academic year and means that one out of every four students is now pursuing a college degree from schools online.
The economic downturn may be responsible for fueling the growth of online education and other distance learning degree programs, as they offer a convenient and inexpensive way for unemployed – as well as underemployed -workers to expand their skills and become more marketable in a tough job environment.
The survey’s authors also say that there is a lot of potential for online programs to expand further, especially at larger institutions.
“For the past several years, all of the growth – 90-plus percent – is coming from existing traditional schools that are growing their current offerings,” said the study’s co-author, Jeff Seaman.
According to US News and World Report, another study, by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities -Sloan Commission on Online Learning, indicated that faculty opinions regarding online education are improving as well. It reported that one-third of public university professors had taught online courses, and that more than half had recommended that students take classes online.
March 5, 2010
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May 5, 2010
If I already got a college loan through my bank and have been late paying it, will I be able to qualify for another form of financial aid?
June 21, 2010
As the popularity of online college grows, will it be mostly for people who have been out of high school for a while?
August 7, 2010
But this is such a good thing for those of use who did not go to college out of high school and don’t want to go now that we are older. We can now get a degree online.
August 7, 2010
It does not surprise me one bit that online college enrollment is soaring. Do you think the ivy league schools will ever offer online degrees?
March 1, 2011
Hey Sean. Some ivy league schools like Columbia have already began offering online degree programs and others offer online courses to students!
March 5, 2011
Online degree programs are also a great way to save money and it works for my work schedule too!