More College-Bound Students Looking to Earn a Degree Exclusively Through Online Channels

July 23, 2007

New Survey by AIU Online Charts Growing Popularity of Online Education

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 23, 2007 – Half of prospective college students who say they’re interested in taking online courses in the next 12 months would like to enroll in a completely online degree program, finds a new survey recently conducted by American InterContinental University Online. Another 32 percent favor a program that is primarily online but includes some campus-based courses and activities, while 10 percent want to pursue primarily an education on campus and 8 percent prefer a program that is half online.

The survey spotlights the growing popularity of acquiring a post-secondary education entirely through the convenience of online delivery channels. By 2006, nearly 3.2 million college students were enrolled in at least one online course, up from 1.6 million in 2003, according to the Sloan Consortium, the nation’s largest association committed to quality online education. Eduventures, a leading research and consulting firm for the education industry, reports that by next year, fully one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online university.

“As more and more students enroll in online courses and learn first-hand the flexibility and convenience of pursuing an education online, the interest in, and the demand for, completely online degree programs will rise,” said Dr. Alan Drimmer, president of the online campus of American InterContinental University. “Greater accessibility is key to the popularity of online courses and degrees, as online universities offer educational opportunities to those individuals whose location or daily schedule does not permit the on-campus experience.”

Methodology

During the April 20-27, 2007 timeframe, American InterContinental University Online conducted the research via e-mail to determine the learning format preferred by survey participants. The survey was conducted among 1,000 participants, ranging in age from 17 to 49, who had indicated an interest in pursuing their higher education in the next 12 months.

For more information, please contact Michael Foley, at mfoley@aiuonline.edu.

About American InterContinental University Online

American InterContinental University is an international university with residential campuses located in Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; South Florida; Houston, Texas; London, England; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (The American University in Dubai). American InterContinental University Online is the university’s web-based virtual campus. For more information, see www.aiuonline.edu.