Overview of Online Colleges in Illinois
Of the more than 200 colleges and universities in Illinois, almost 150 of them offer online degree programs and distance learning courses. The University of Illinois is just one of the nine public universities in the state that offers online programs for its students. This distance learning campus serves as an example of how versatile distance learning options are for those seeking certifications and non-credit classes, as well as undergraduate and graduate level degrees, in the state. The average student enrolled in Illinois community colleges, according the Illinois Community College Board, is over 25 years old and studying part-time in preparation to transfer to a four-year university. This demographic suggests that distance education, which caters to non-traditional students with flexible scheduling needs, will continue to expand as part of the state’s higher learning tradition.
Illinois has fought to maintain funding for higher learning. In 2011-12, when the U.S. saw an average decline of 7.5% in state appropriated funding for education, Illinois was actually able to increase their state-garnered funding by 10%. Over the course of the past 10 years, Illinois has seen the lowest increase in public enrollment at just 3% since 2004, although the price of tuition has changed no more than the national average of 18% in five years’ time.
You can read more about earning a degree online in Illinois by exploring the schools linked below. There is information about nearly 150 colleges and universities at your fingertips, along with details of 228 scholarships that are all searchable by custom criteria and qualifiers like student GPA and enrollment year. Don’t overlook the links to other vital resources in the state, such as those under the Higher Learning tab.