Online Texas Colleges Facts and Statistics

The rise in popularity of Internet-based schools has spawned a number of studies, polls and research projects to confirm enrollment figures and determine if the quality of online education is up to snuff. In nearly all cases, the results were favorable. Some facts and figures culled from the resulting reports:

• Although they could enroll in a program based anywhere in the world, more than 80 percent of all online students in Texas are enrolled in Internet-based courses offered by institutions that are physically located within 50 miles of their homes.
• People attending online Texas colleges are more apt to be adults. Approximately 46 percent of the Lone Star State's adults take part in some form of online education to earn advanced degrees, keep their skills current or learn new job skills.
• Nearly four million students were enrolled in at least one online course in 2007, the most recent year for which official statistics are available. That represents an increase of more than 18 percent over the previous year, which dwarfs the annual 1.5 percent growth rate at brick-and-mortar institutions of higher learning.
• Over the last five years, the number of students enrolled in Texas online education programs and others across the country has more than doubled.
• Just over half of the students enrolled in online Texas colleges are working toward Associate of Arts degrees, followed, in descending order, by Master's degrees, Doctorates, specialized degrees and Bachelor's degrees.
• A poll of U.S. educators found that 72 percent of them said they would enroll in online courses if they were to go back to school.
• Well over 90 percent of public institutions--including several Texas colleges--now offer online education programs, while nearly half of postsecondary schools offer online degree programs.
• Of all the traditional colleges and universities in the country that offer Master's degree programs, 44 percent also offer Master's programs on-line.
• A 2007 poll of chief academic officers across the nation revealed 62 percent of them believe that obtaining a Texas online education is at least equal to, and in many cases superior to, traditional classroom learning.
• The book, "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon," which compiled the findings of 355 in-depth studies, reports and summaries on online education, found "no difference" in knowledge acquired from traditional schools vs. Internet-based colleges.
• During the last election, a poll conducted by the National Education Association found that 65 percent of student voters cited college affordability as an important election issue. 34 percent said it was the most important issue.