Overview of Online Colleges in Connecticut
The state of Connecticut proactively integrates eLearning at the K-12 and collegiate levels. The Board for State Academic Awards founded the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) in 1996, an association that oversees online learning management solutions, tech support, and instructional design for the entire state of Connecticut. A total of 31 academic institutions have representation at the CTDLC. This organization established the CT Virtual Learning Center in 2008, however academic budget cuts forced this online system to pool resources with partner institution, the Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative, in order to accommodate distance learners. Several college campuses host their own online degree programs, including the University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University.
In spite of these efforts, the state's overall education budget has tightened in recent years. A CTDLC report released in 2013 indicates that state appropriations suffered a 9% dip between 2011-2012. Fortunately for students, tuition rates haven't spiked nearly as drastically in Connecticut as they have in other states. In five years, in-state tuition at four-year public institutions rose by 28.9% compared to a national increase of 42%.
Learn more about online distance learning programs by exploring our comprehensive database, which catalogs Connecticut's top online academic institutions. Don't forget to check the state facts tab to see how the state compares to national higher education averages.