More Students Studying Online Than Ever Before

Would you like to pursue college education in the comfort of your own home? If so, then you are not alone. A new survey conducted by the Department of Education and published by the National Center for Education Statistics revealed that enrollment in online degree programs is increasing significantly each year. The results of the survey showed that 12.2 million students were enrolled in online courses in 2007. In addition, the Ministry of Education expects this number to increase to 18 million by to 2012.

These statistics can be found in the registration numbers of the country’s universities. Northern Virginia Community College has seen a 10% increase in online registrations over the last year. Excelsior College, which claims to be one of the first “virtual” universities, has also experienced a dramatic increase in online attendance – more than 23% since last spring. The increase, however, is not as dramatic as that seen in Lower Columbia College, Washington, with online registrations jumping 216 per cent since last summer.

Reasons for growth
So why is it so popular to get an online degree? Online registration may be growing as more and more colleges offer this option to their students. After starting as a niche market, online learning opportunities have exploded. The Ministry of Education found that in 2007, 61% of post-secondary institutions offered online courses to their students.

Distance education seems to be the most popular in public universities. Nearly 97% of public institutions surveyed by the Ministry of Education for two years reported offering some type of distance education, the vast majority of which were online courses. Four-year-old public universities are also jumping on the Internet: more than 89% of these institutions now offer distance learning courses.

The economy
The struggling economy may also play a role in the growing popularity of those wishing to graduate online. With the rising unemployment rate, many adults may not feel comfortable leaving their jobs to return to school full-time. The relatively low cost of online programs may also be of interest to those seeking to hone their skills without taking huge loans. Not to mention that many job seekers can take online courses to make their resume more appealing to potential employers.

The relatively high cost of gasoline may also encourage more students to become familiar with online courses. Cable Green, the Council of State’s eLearning director who oversees Lower Columbia College, believes that gas prices are an important factor in the growth of e-learning. Green points out that this cost is particularly high for students in rural areas because they usually have to travel long distances to get to school. Saving gas is just one of the benefits of an online degree, and these benefits can be particularly valuable in times of economic difficulty.

Whatever the cause, it seems that the prospects for e-learning are very promising. If the number of registrations continues to grow, as suggested by the Department of Education, getting your college degree online can be as common as attending a traditional college or university.