I recently found this article written by eLearners about a survey they conducted regarding the economy and online education. Very interesting read and wanted to share/hear your thoughts. Are you more inclined to study online due to the current economic conditions?
Here's the newsstory:
HOBOKEN, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 12/02/08 -- eLearners.com, a Web resource of EducationDynamics, has witnessed a 74 percent increase in unique visitors relative to last year with the majority of that growth coming recently on the heels of the economic crisis. In fact, in November, a seasonally low month for education inquiries, eLearners.com witnessed a spike in unique visitors of 138 percent compared to last year. The motivation, according to a survey of recent visitors to the site, is a need to remain competitive in their career with 33 percent saying either they need the degree to grow in their career or to compete and 44 percent indicating they want to start a new career.
"There are those who react and there are those who plan," said Terrence Thomas, Executive Vice President of Marketing for eLearners.com. "What we seem to be seeing is a monsoon of planners who in anticipation of difficult economic times are preparing for their next career move. They are also seeking the convenience of online education."
Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they intend to return to school within the next six months, with 75 percent indicating their preference for online programs because it "fits into their busy schedules." Seventy-seven percent indicated that they need a diploma and/or need specialized knowledge to get the job they want. However, with nearly 33 percent of respondents making less than $30,000 per year and nearly 20 percent unemployed, paying for school may be an obstacle, particularly in the face of a credit crunch. In fact, 33 percent indicated they were unsure of how they would fund their education with 42 percent saying they would seek student loans.
Source: http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/elearnerscom-survey-economic-crisis/264900