Online university draws record enrollment

Online university draws record enrollment

Authorities at Upper Iowa University have recently announced that enrollment in online education programs at the school has increased by almost 25 percent over the past year.

Officials also reported that 85 percent of students taking online courses through the university live in the same region as one of the 15 state campuses, giving most participants access to traditional and hybrid classes.

"With the job market in such dire straits, many people are utilizing the flexibility of online education to make themselves more competitive," said Alan Walker, president of the university.

"Enrollment for online education continues to climb during this time while we are seeing traditional educational institutions across the country making cuts or shutting their doors completely," he added.

According to UIU, in June 2009 the Department of Education found that students who took all or part of their courses online did better, on average, than those who only took traditional classes.

Universities that offer online degree programs 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.