Distance Learning Statistics

Curious about distance learning education? Do you want to know some recent distance learning statistics to find out more about this popular trend? Well, look no further.

 At the beginning of this new millennium, the U.S. Depart of Education commissioned a report to find out more about distance learning. Here are some of the statistics the report revealed.

• One-third of all postsecondary schools offer distance learning courses.
• 8% of postsecondary schools offer college-level degree or certificate programs completely through distance learning.
• 55% of 2-year and 4-year institutions offer college-level credit-granting distance learning courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level.
• The top 3 technologies used to deliver courses involved internet-based, two-way interactive video, and one-way prerecorded video

 
However, an additional report revealed that only a small percentage of faculty at these institutions participates in distance education, usually around 5%. So it is worth researching the distance learning program of your choice to find out about the faculty involved in the instruction.

But distance learning has become increasingly popular over the years. In the 2000-2001 academic school year, 3,077,000 students enrolled in distance education courses. And the National Center for Education Statistics expects this number to increase by around 19%, to 18.2 million, by 2013. They think the biggest factor affecting enrollment will be the increasing likelihood of traditional college-age students, 18-24-year-olds, to participate in distance learning online programs.

This enrollment will increase across all postsecondary levels, with a projected 18% growth for undergraduate students, 19% for graduate students, and 27% for first-professional students.

As technologies improve and more institutions begin jumping on the distance learning bandwagon, your opportunities to take advantage of this exciting online phenomenon will only get more developed.