This report and the information contained within is based on queries and responses from over 2500 institutes of higher learning. Supported by the Sloan Foundation, Colleges and universities from across the country have supplied their data for this report.

Trend towards Online Learning

More individuals are getting their education at home than ever before. Perhaps the need to minimize expenses with the high price of commutes nowadays and the availability of the Internet is fueling this trend. The ability to get a quality-education while attending to your children and maintaining a household is very attractive in today’s busy world. Although increasing slower than in previous years, online education growth was and continues to be quite a bit more substantial than overall educational enrollments.

Close to 3.5 million individuals were taking one of more online course during the fall of 2006. This is a almost a 10% increase from 2005 numbers. A 9.7% increase plotted against the overall educational facility growth rate of 1.5% tells us that the world of higher education is changing quickly. If you look at the fact that almost 20% of all United States higher education students were enrolled in at least one online course in the fall semester of 2006, we understand that distant learning via the Internet is here to stay.

Where is the Growth Occurring Most?

Just about all institutions of higher learning have shown substantial growth yet it is found that not all institutions and facilities have had the same degree of success as others. Therefore, it’s entirely imaginable that we will see growth of certain types of institutions outpacing others in the years to come.

The clear winner seems to be institutions focused on two-year associate programs. These community college and other two year institutions account for one-half of the online student population over the last five years.

The schools with the least successful programs seem to be 4 year, undergraduate institutions offering baccalaureate degrees.

Why Colleges and Universities Offer Online Courses

Since the advent of the internet has generally increased all of our awareness and access to information, the idea of actually being able to obtain a degree by sitting in front of a computer is fascinating application of the modern age.

The most cited reason for these institutions offering these online course situations is improved student access to the course materials, group learning environments and instructor interaction. This tends to allow the student a better opportunity for completion of his or her degree.

One additional appeal to online instruction is the privacy afforded by working in the privacy or one’s own home. Degree offerings appeal to a large cross-section of those individuals who have been away from the classroom environment for many years. Possibly, these individuals feel more comfortable without the social interaction and stresses associated with the classroom.