Spring enrollments in online programs showed a 19 percent increase over the same period in 2020, underscoring IU's success in attracting students eager to pursue online learning.
IU Online now offers more than 180 degree and certificate programs across IU's seven campuses, up from 170 in fall 2020. One hundred and twenty-six of these are graduate programs, and 54 are undergraduate programs.
Other highlights of the official spring census include the following:
- The number of students in online certificate and degree programs rose to 7,321, a 19.3 percent increase from spring 2020. The students come from 53 US states and territories, and 52 countries.
- Undergraduate online program enrollment grew 16.3 percent over spring 2020 to 2,877. Of these, 10 percent are new students, 18 percent come from underrepresented groups, and 36 percent are first-generation students.
- Graduate enrollment in online programs increased 21.3 percent over spring 2020 to 4,444. Of these, 13 percent come from underrepresented groups, 4.5 percent are veterans or members of the military, and 8 percent come from outside the US.
- Indiana residents account for 79.6 percent of all online program enrollments, a 22.1 percent increase over spring 2020.
Since 2014, the number of IU Online programs has more than doubled, and the number of students enrolled in these programs has grown by nearly 90 percent. For more detail about online applicants, enrollments, demographics, trends, and programs, see Office of Online Education Reports (CAS log-in required for most reports), or watch the spring 2021 census video.
Enrollments in collaborative programs
The first collaborative online program, the Bachelor of Applied Science, enrolled its first student in spring 2015. Over the past six years, the university has launched 29 new collaborative degrees and certificates. These programs are designed and delivered by faculty across multiple campuses and are coordinated by the Office of Collaborative Academic Programs. The programs are jointly owned and delivered by participating campuses.
In spring 2021, nine collaborative undergraduate online programs enrolled almost 900 students, a 58 percent increase over spring 2020.
Graduate collaborative online program enrollment increased by 16 percent, to 361 students between spring 2020 and 2021. Programs at the graduate level include 15 stackable collaborative graduate certificates and degrees in biology, chemistry, communication studies, English, history, languages, mathematics, and political science. These graduate programs for teachers are designed to help instructors who teach college courses to high school students meet Higher Learning Commission guidelines.