Southern university experiences record growth in online enrollments

Southern university experiences record growth in online enrollments

Many schools are taking steps to increase their online course options. This is due in part to a nationwide surge in nontraditional students, such as single or working parents. In order to provide educational access to these learners, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is launching several new web-based courses.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that UCF's online degree programs are growing more popular than its campus-based options. According to officials from the school, surveys show that enrollees like the quality of their instruction in addition to the flexibility it adds to their schedules.

UCF has seen enrollment in web-based courses go from about 29,000 in 2002 to approximately 111,000 this past year. According to The Sentinel, the boost in online enrollment has limited student traffic on UCF's busy campus as well. More learners are able to complete coursework from an off-campus home or coffee shop.

More than 4.6 million students nationwide were enrolled in online courses during the 2008 academic year, according to a recent report by the Babson Survey Research Group and the Sloan Consortium.

By Mark Danson