South Dakota online universities experiencing record growth

South Dakota online universities experiencing record growth

According to new research, the growth of online education at South Dakota public universities outpaces the national average, ArgusLeader.com reports.

The number of students enrolled in at least one online course rose by 17 percent in the 2008-09 academic year in South Dakota, compared to the 13 percent growth seen nationwide, as reported by the Sloan Consortium.

Last year, registration for general individual distance learning classes in the state rose by 14 percent to a total of almost 32,000 students.

The news provider also said that South Dakota's online education community has a student population that ranges in age from 16-78, with 61 percent falling in the 18-24 range.

The most popular online courses offered by South Dakota public universities include composition 2, college algebra and South Dakota Indian Studies.

Today, over 3.5 million students are taking online courses and earning online college degrees. At the secondary school level, over 700,000 high school students are taking one or more courses online and nearly 40 states have established state-led virtual schools.