Study: Online education grew by 17 percent in 2008

Study: Online education grew by 17 percent in 2008

According to a new study, enrollment in online courses in the U.S. rose by nearly 17 percent in 2008.

The 2009 Sloan Survey of Online Learning, conducted by the College Board, the Babson Survey Research Group and the Sloan Consortium, reviewed over 2,500 online colleges and universities and found that approximately 4.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in the fall of 2008, the most recent semester for which enrollment figures are available.

"Online enrollments in U.S. higher education show no signs of slowing," said study co-author Jeff Seaman, co-director of the Babson Survey Research Group. "More than one out of four college and university students now take at least one course online."

The 7th annual survey found that the economic recession and the increased presence of the H1N1 virus were the most significant contributing factors to the increased enrollment in online courses.

Online universities may be particularly attractive to adults who would like to acquire new skills but do not have the time to do so in a conventional setting.

By Mark Danson