Distance Education in Higher Education. Statistical Analysis Report. Postsecondary Education Quick Information System.

Overview & Synopsis

This 1995 federal survey designed to provide the first nationally representative data about higher education distance education course offerings. Data were collected in fall 1995 from 2-year and 4-year higher education institutions and were weighted to provide national estimates. The study includes information about the percentage of institutions that offer or plan to offer distance education courses in the next three years; course offerings, including the types of technologies used to deliver distance education and the sites to which such courses are directed; enrollments and completions; characteristics of distance education courses and programs; program goals; future plans; and factors inhibiting distance education programs. Among the results reported by the survey were the following: one- third of higher education institutions offered distance education courses, and an estimated 25,730 courses were offered; approximately 753,640 students were formally enrolled in distance education courses in academic year 1994-95; public 2-year institutions accounted for 55 percent, public 4-year institutions for 31 percent, and private 4-year institutions for 14 percent of the students enrolled in distance education; about 25 percent of the institutions offered degrees that could be completed through taking distance education courses exclusively. An estimated 3,430 students received degrees in 1994-95 by taking distance education course exclusively. Appended are tables of standard errors and the survey form. (JLS)