College Courses Through The Internet Could Be Future Of Higher Education, Capella University Study Shows.

Business Editors/Education Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 2000

Survey Respondents See E-learning In The

Higher Education Crystal Ball

Since the days of Socrates, higher education has essentially played itself out in one way: an omniscient professor and a gathering of wide-eyed students.

But according to a national research survey released today, that all could be changing.

A national survey of working adults revealed that most respondents (54 percent) believe that college courses offered via the Internet are the future of higher education. The study also found that while people see education as a top priority, busy schedules (42 percent) and family and travel commitments (10 percent) may be keeping people from continuing their education.

However, the survey indicates that by making education more convenient, flexible and accessible, the Internet could open the doors of education to a whole new group of adults.

The findings stem from an independent national research survey commissioned by Capella University, an accredited online university that offers courses and degree programs in business, human services, education, psychology and information technology. Capella University commissioned the study to learn more about what adults are looking for in higher education.

"This research validates what many of our students have been saying about the Internet's effect on higher education," said Stephen Shank, president and CEO of Capella University. "The convenience online education provides has the potential to make education possible for a whole new group of working adults. That the majority of working adults see Internet classes as the future of education is ver encouraging."

Key findings of the survey include: (for detailed breakouts, an executive summary is available at http://www.capellauniversity.edu/newsmaker)

-- Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents said they are

interested in continuing their education.

-- Approximately half of the respondents who said they were

interested in continuing their education (48 percent) said

that a busy schedule is the biggest barrier to hitting the

books. A third of respondents interested in going back to

school cited high costs as the biggest impediment to going

back to school. For all respondents, 42 percent said their

busy schedule kept them out of the classroom, while 25 percent

said cost was the top factor and 10 percent cited family

commitments.

-- Assuming the quality of education was the same, almost

one-third (32 percent) of respondents said they would rather

take courses through the Internet than go to a classroom.

-- A majority (57 percent) of the more than 500 respondents who

offered an opinion believed college courses offered through

the Internet are the future of higher education.

-- When choosing a university, working adults said the

institution's name is far less important that what it can do.

According to respondents, the three biggest factors in

choosing an institution are programs that are relevant to

their profession (26 percent), convenience (21 percent) and

affordability (21 percent). Lagging far behind were the

reputation of the institution (13 percent), challenging

curriculum (8 percent) and availability of professors (7

percent).

-- The new homeroom. A majority (53 percent) of respondents said

the biggest benefit of taking courses online was the ability

to work from home, while 19 percent cited time saved from not

having to commute.

-- A substantial majority (63 percent) of respondents said that

the nighttime was the right time for courses, including nearly

a quarter (22 percent) who said their ideal class time would

be late night or after the kids are in bed. Another 12 percent

said early in the morning, before they go to work, was their

ideal course time.

-- Given the option of studying in exotic locations around the

world, respondents still said home base was the ideal place.

More than a third (34 percent) of respondents opted to stay at

home with their family, topping choices such as a cabin in the

mountains (23 percent), a tropical beach (21 percent) or

whirlwind tour of the world (17 percent).

-- Keep it casual. Survey respondents liked the idea of dressing

down for class. More than half of the respondents (54 percent)

said the greatest advantage of taking courses from home was

the ability to attend class in their pajamas.

-- The crystal ball. Looking 50 years down the road, more than

three-quarters of respondents believe the Internet will play a

major role in higher education, including 39 percent who said

the Internet would make classrooms obsolete. Only 2 percent

believed that higher education would not be changed.

Opinion Research Corporation International, an international research firm, conducted the telephone survey of 667 working adults in February 2000. The margin of error on the survey is plus or minus 3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

Capella University (www.capellauniversity.edu) is an accredited university that offers an MBA, an undergraduate degree in information technology, as well as certificates, master's and Ph.D. degrees in business, human services, education and psychology. Through its online campus and its directed study programs Capella University currently teaches more than 1,500 students throughout the U.S. and in 20 countries.

Capella University is affiliated with the for-profit Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis. Founded in 1993, Capella Education Company has evolved to become the leader in online learning, distance education and professional development. For more information visit Capella University at http://www.capellauniversity.edu or call 888.879.6745.