Online Learning Update

By Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed
Are we at the leading edge of a trend that will see demand for master’s programs from regional institutions eroded by the emergence of nondegree/non-credit-bearing online programs from elite institutions? A drop in the demand for master’s degrees would have significant consequences for many colleges and universities. Over the last 45 years, the number of master’s degrees conferred annually by colleges and universities in the U.S. has more than tripled, from 236,000 in 1970 to 759,000 in 2015. Many schools rely on revenues from master’s programs to offset the costs associated with undergraduate degrees, and in particular, the growth of undergraduate tuition discounting. Whereas over 80 percent of undergraduates receive some institutional financial aid, less than 40 percent of master’s candidates have their tuition discounted. The average annual tuition for a master’s program is around $15,000 per year and over $20,000 at private institutions. At many regional universities, the tuition for master’s programs runs much higher.

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/technology-and-learning/why-higher-eds-global-brands-are-starting-nondegree