The Most Popular Degrees
According to national surveys in the Sloan Consortium report Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010, more than 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2009, an increase of approximately 1 million students from the year before.
Clearly, you are not alone in considering the benefits of earning your bachelor's degree online. Whether you are interested in a career in health care, business or construction management, online classes can prepare you. Perhaps you are already working, trying to balance family responsibilities or the thought of attending a traditional college just doesn't appeal to you. Online education could be the answer, as it provides you with flexible and affordable options to quickly earn your degree and advance your career. This site is designed to help you find an online school that suits your educational needs and career goals.
Online Education Facts and Statistics
Online education is monitored by The Sloan Consortium—an association of institutions and organizations that promotes quality online learning through the sharing of knowledge with program providers and students. The following statistics outline recent trends in online education based on enrollment numbers and growth predictions. These statistics are taken from Sloan's Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010:
- "The 21 percent growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the less than 2 percent growth of the overall higher education student population."
- "Nearly 30 percent of higher education students now take at least one course online."
- "Sixty-three percent of all reporting institutions said that online learning was a critical part of their institution's long-term strategy."
- "More than three-quarters of academic leaders at public institutions report that online is as good as or better than face-to-face instruction (compared with only 55.4 percent of private nonprofits and 67 percent of for-profits)."
Benefits of Distance Education
With online courses, you can work at your own pace at any time of any day. This allows you to learn in your own way and take ownership of how quickly you earn your online bachelor's degree. The anonymity that online schools provide fosters more student participation by limiting the social pressure that can sometimes occur in a face-to-face learning environment. This also makes professors and instructors who teach online classes more approachable. Furthermore, online education embraces new and emerging technologies. In a world where technology is constantly evolving, employers look for workers who have demonstrated their willingness to use cutting-edge computer programs and platforms. All of these aspects of online education contribute to its popularity among working adults and nontraditional students.
Using the BachelorsDegreeOnline.com Site
BachelorsDegreeOnline.com is designed to help you find and receive information about online schools. To help you decide whether an online bachelor's degree is right for you, we have outlined recent statistics, benefits and tips for finding a high-quality program. Our blog includes a series of articles highlighting popular topics related to online education. From the main page you can access a list of degree profiles. Just click on an area of study to research its online options.