GRADE CHANGE, 2013

ANNUAL SURVEY OF ONLINE EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Survey by I. Elaine Allen and Je Seaman, Babson Survey Research Group; based on responses from
over 2,800 Chief Academic Ocers (CAOs) and academic leaders
Infographic by Pearson

The state of online learning in higher education.

The number of students taking at least one online course has now surpassed 7.1 million and represents 33%
of all higher education students (21.3 million).
Students Taking at Least One Online Course as Part of Total - Fall 2012

7.1 MILLION
STUDENTS
ONLINE
Total Students - 21.3 million
= 1 million students

= Online students

Growth of online enrollments slowed to 6.1% in 2012. However, this number still represents over 400,000
additional students taking at least one online course this year.
Yearly Growth Rate in Online Enrollments: Fall 2003-Fall 2012
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
2003

0%

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Is online education critical to the long-term strategy of institutions?

66% of CAOs agree that online education is
critical to the long-term strategy of their
institution, a 4.6% decrease from 2012.

The decrease in agreement of online being

critical was only seen in institutions that do not
currently have online oerings.
Agreement that Online Education is Critical to the
Long-term Strategy by Online Oerings: 2012 and 2013

Online Education is Critical to the Long-term Strategy

of My Institution: 2009 to 2013
100%

100%

80%

75%

60%
50%
40%
25%

20%

75.9%
0%

2009

2010

2011

Agree

2012

Neutral

0%

2013

75.9%

32.9%

Has Online Oerings

No Online Oerings

2012

Disagree

14.3%

2013

How do academicleadersratelearningoutcomesinonlineeducation?
CAOs ratinglearningoutcomesinonlineeducationasthe sameorsuperiortothoseinface-to-face
environmentsgrewfrom57.2%in2003to77.0% lastyear,butfellbackto74.1% thisyear.
Learning Outcomes in Online Education Compared to Face-to-face: 2003 - 2013
100%

Superior

80%
60%

Same

40%
20%

Inferior

0%

2003

2004

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Has Online Oerings

2013 saw a 12% increase in the number of CAOs

who believe online outcomes are inferior to
face-to-face. However, this increase was seen in
institutions that do not have online oerings.
Superior

Same

2012
2013
No Online Oerings
2012
2013

Inferior

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

The number of institutions with a MOOC has doubled in the past year.
Lessthanone-quarterofacademicleadersbelieve
thatMOOCsrepresentasustainable methodfor
oeringonlinecourses.

Only5% ofhighereducationinstitutionscurrently
oeraMOOC and only 9.3% reportbeing inthe
planningstages.
Status of MOOC Oerings - 2013

MOOCs are a Sustainable Method for Oering

Courses - 2013

5%

MO O C

9.3%

23.2%

33.0%

38.5%

38.3%

52.7%
5.0%

Have

Planning

Not Decided

No Plans

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

There is increased concern among CAOs that credentials for MOOCs will lead to confusion about higher
education degrees.
Credentials for MOOC Completion Will Cause Confusion About Higher Education Degrees - 2012 and 2013
2012
2013
0%

20%

40%
Agree

60%
Neutral

80%

100%

Disagree

Theeleventhannualsurvey,acollaborativeeortbetweentheBabsonSurveyResearchGroupandtheCollegeBoard,istheleadingbarometerofonlinelearningintheUnitedStates.Basedon
responsesfromover2,800academicleaders,thecompletesurveyreport,GradeChangeisavailableathttp://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/grade-change-2013. Thisreport
remainsindependentthroughthesupportofPearsonandtheSloanConsortium.
Copyright 2013 by Babson Survey Research Group, Pearson and Quahog Research Group, LLC.
Permission is hereby granted for all non-commercial use of this infographic provided: notification is provided to bsrg@babson.edu and prior attribution is included. Commercial use may also be
granted inquire at bsrg@babson.edu.