Sloan Survey of Online Learning

Eighth annual survey - Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010

The eighth annual Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that online enrollment grew by nearly one million students over a year earlier.

Using results from more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide, the report finds approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2009.

Other findings:

• The 21% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 2% growth in the overall higher education student population.
• Three-quarters of institutions report that the economic downturn has increased demand for online courses and programs.
• Nearly thirty percent of all college and university students now take at least one course online.
• Over three-quarters of academic leaders at public institutions report that online is as good as or better than face-to-face instruction.
• Chief Academic Officers say that online education is critical to their long-term strategy (63%).