Strong Growth in Online Education; New Study Shows Enrollment up 12 Percent to Nearly 4 Million

For nearly 5 years, growth in online enrollments in higher education program has outpaced growth in traditional enrollments at campus based higher education programs. It is the opinion of academics and professionals alike that online enrollments will continue substantial growth for many years to come.

A 2008 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reports that online enrollment in career and degree programs has increase nearly thirteen percent during the last year alone. The survey also revealed nearly 4 million students were enrolled in one or more online courses in the
fall of the preceding year.

Elaine Allen, Research Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College and the study co-author said, "We are still seeing double-digit growth, yet schools report they are competing for students as online options expand."

“Chief academic officers also say increasing fuel costs, unemployment, and the downturn in the economy are expected to drive further increases in online student enrollment” she said.

“In these tough economic times, with unemployment up and higher costs for heating and transportation, we will inevitably see the appeal of online education grow,” said Frank Mayadas, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “The survey results demonstrate that online education is increasingly playing an important role in higher education.”