University sees record enrollment in online courses

University sees record enrollment in online courses

Officials at Arkansas State University Jonesboro (ASUJ) have recently announced that the school's enrollment has increased by 12 percent this spring due to the expansion of graduate level classes, international student programs and online degree offerings, according to the ASU Herald.

The number of graduate school students enrolled in classes has increased by 57 percent over the last year. Moreover, there are currently more than 700 international students at ASUJ, up from just over 100 two years ago.

"Our faculty and staff have worked hard to build our graduate and international programs," said chancellor Robert Potts, quoted by the news source. "Our distance learning efforts have also expanded, and we now give many students who cannot travel to campus distance learning options."

Potts added that there are currently more than 1,200 students enrolled in online masters degree classes online, breaking the record of the fall semester of 2009.

The online education sector grew by 17 percent in 2008. Nearly one in four U.S. students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports.

By Mark Danson