University System of Georgia sees increase in online education enrollment

University System of Georgia sees increase in online education enrollment

The University System of Georgia (USG) has announced student enrollment in its online courses has risen 35 percent in the past year.

This means that approximately 43,000 students are currently taking at least one online course from a university system institution, according to Macon.com, an informational website.

In total, the school offers 169 programs and nearly 2,870 courses, Kris Biesinger, associate vice chancellor for Information and Instructional Technology Services, told the news provider.

USG website also explains that students admitted to its online programs learn the same material and benefit from the same rigorous and high-quality learning experiences as campus-based students, and they enjoy frequent interactions with the instructor and other classmates.

The popularity of online education at USG follows the upward trend noted across America where this type of instruction grew by 13 percent last year, according to Reuters.

The news source also estimates that nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002. Two million students, mostly older than the traditional 18-22 year-old undergraduates, take all their courses online and two million more take one or more online course.