Largest Online Universities and Colleges: Enrollment Data and Presidential Profiles

Transcription

1 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC P F Largest Online Universities and Colleges: Enrollment Data and Presidential Profiles Prepared for College XYZ In this report, Hanover Research presents a list of the ten largest online universities, along with information on student enrollment and profiles of each institution s president. MARKET EVALUATION SURVEYING DATA ANALYSIS BENCHMARKING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES LITERATURE REVIEW

2 Ranking Online Colleges and Universities by Enrollment Hanover Research uncovered only one list of online colleges and universities that both ranks institutions by enrollment size and publishes the enrollment figures used. The list is provided by OnlineUniversityData.com, a site designed for recent high school graduates and adults interested in pursuing a postsecondary degree or certificate program through distance learning. OnlineUniversityData.com provides a list of the Largest Colleges and Universities according to its data. When narrowed to only non-traditional institutions, defined here as institutions that focus primarily on delivering convenient education options to non-traditional and adult learners, the following are the top fifteen online education providers, ranked by enrollment size. 1 Largest Online Universities by Enrollment Limited to Non-Traditional Institutions (OnlineUniversityData.com) Rank Institution Location Enrollment 1 University of Phoenix-Online Campus Phoenix, AZ 224,880 2 Strayer University Washington, DC 35,754 3 College XYZ Kaplan University Davenport, IA 32,734 5 University of Maryland-University College Adelphi, MD 32,540 6 Walden University Minneapolis, MN 29,455 7 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL 27,518 8 American Intercontinental University Online Hoffman Estates, IL 22,173 9 Capella University Minneapolis, MN 21, DeVry University Addison, IL 19, American Public University System Charles Town, WV 14, Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ 13, Ashford University Clinton, IA 10, Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT 9, Western International University Phoenix, AZ 8,909 Source: OnlineUniversityData.com Note: College XYZ was added to the ranking by Hanover Research. It does not appear on the original list. Notably, OnlineUniversityData.com does not elaborate on the sources for its data and does not specify the academic year or term that the data refer to. Furthermore, it lists enrollment only as Number of Students and does not clarify whether the figures include students enrolled for credit only or all students. Finally, the list does not specifically state that the enrollments provided refer only to students in online degree and certificate programs. In order to provide a check on this data, then, we consulted additional lists, as well as gathered data through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), an online database maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). These data reveal similar, though not identical, results. 1 List of Largest Colleges and Universities. OnlineUniversityData. 2

3 The college search site Top10OnlineUniversities.org provides a list of the top ten largest online universities, which is likewise headed by the University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and Kaplan University the same institutions that top the OnlineUniversityData.com list if College XYZ is excluded. 2 From there, however, the Top10OnlineUniversities.org list differs slightly from that produced by OnlineUniversityData.com. Notably, it includes Liberty University, which would have ranked 8 th on the OnlineUniversityData.com list, but was excluded because it did not meet our definition for non-traditional institutions. Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a Christian Evangelical institution that offers traditional campus-based opportunities for college-aged students, in addition to online programs. Largest Online Universities (Top10OnlineUniversities.org) Rank Institution 1 University of Phoenix 2 Strayer University 3 Kaplan University 4 Walden University 5 Nova Southeastern University 6 Liberty University 7 American Intercontinental University Online 8 Capella University 9 Grand Canyon University 10 Ashford University Source: Top10OnlineUniversities.org In order to provide an additional check on the OnlineUniversityData.com list, we collected enrollment figures for each of the listed 15 institutions through IPEDS. The IPEDS College Navigator tool provides enrollment figures for the fall of, which include only students enrolled for-credit. 3 However, in most cases, the enrollment figures combine an institution s online and campus-based programs. The following table presents the newly ordered list according to the IPEDS data. An asterisk by the enrollment figure indicates that it is likely the number includes both online and oncampus students. In the remaining cases, the data refer specifically to an online campus or to an institution that only offers distance learning education. Non-Traditional Colleges and Universities, Fall Enrollment Rank Institution Location Enrollment 1 University of Phoenix-Online Campus Phoenix, AZ 380,232 2 Kaplan University Davenport, IA 71,011* 2 What Are the Largest Online Universities in the US? Top10OnlineUniversities. 3 U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, College Navigator Tool. 3

4 Rank Institution Location Enrollment 3 Strayer University Washington, DC 54,325* 4 Ashford University Clinton, IA 46,835* 5 Walden University Minneapolis, MN 40,714 6 University of Maryland-University College Adelphi, MD 37,347* 7 College XYZ Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ 34,205* 9 Capella University Minneapolis, MN 31, American Public University System Charles Town, WV 31, DeVry University Addison, IL 30,127* 12 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL 29,153* 13 American Intercontinental University Online Hoffman Estates, IL 26, Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT 15, Western International University Phoenix, AZ 2,927* Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Note: Includes students enrolled for credit in the fall semester. *Indicates combined online and campus enrollments. Again, the University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, and Strayer University hold the top three spots. Interestingly, Ashford University, ranked 13 th on the previous list, rises to the 4 th spot according to the IPEDS data, though this figure notably includes students in both its online and campus-based programs in Iowa. Walden University and the University of Maryland-University College continue to hold the 5 th and 6 th spots, though in reverse order from the previous list. However, larger enrollments reported to IPEDS on the part of many of these institutions mean that College XYZ falls to the 7 th spot on this list. In the following section, we provide brief profiles of the presidents of each of the ten largest online universities, according to the list provided by OnlineUniversityData.com. This list was selected for use due to its exclusive focus on online universities and its publication of enrollment figures. 4

5 Online University President Profiles The following profiles provide background information on the presidents at each of the nine other institutions that accompany College XYZ on the top ten list of the largest online universities. Each profile includes the enrollment figures provided by OnlineUniversityData.com (OUD) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). University of Phoenix Enrollment: 224,880 (OUD) / 380,232 (IPEDS) President: William Pepicello, Ph.D. 4 o Education: BA Classics, Gannon University; MA, PhD, Linguistics, Brown University Department Chair for Classics, Temple University Regional Dean for Southern California, National University o Joined University of Phoenix in 2002 as Dean of the School of Advanced Studies. Became Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in November, 2003, then Provost for the University in January, Appointed President of the University of Phoenix in September Sits on Accreditation Review Council of the Higher Learning Commission. Serves on the Commission for Postsecondary Education under the Governor s Office for the State of Arizona. Advisory Board, Greater Phoenix Boys and Girls Club Vice Chairman, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors Board of Directors, United Way Board of Directors, Heard Museum Strayer University Enrollment: 35,754 (OUD) / 54,325 (IPEDS) President: Sondra F. Stallard 5 o Education: BA, History and Government, West Virginia University Institute of Technology; MA, History, Morehead State University; PhD, Education, University of Virginia 4 University of Phoenix, Office of the President, Biography. 5 Sondra F. Stallard. The Washington Post. 5

6 Faculty member, School of Education s Consultative Resource Center, University of Virginia Dean, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Virginia Director of Corporate Relations, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia Director of Development, School of Engineering, University of Virginia Director, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Virginia Executive Assistant to the President, University of Virginia o Appointed University President for Strayer University in September Kaplan University Enrollment: 32,734 (OUD) / 71,011 (IPEDS) President: Andrew S. Rosen o Education: AB, Duke University; JD, Yale Law School 7 Staff Attorney, The Washington Post newspaper Assistant Counsel, Newsweek Center Administrator, Kaplan, Inc. Regional Director, Kaplan, Inc. Vice President for Field Management, Kaplan, Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Kaplan, Inc. o Assumed leadership for Kaplan s higher education operations in Board of Directors, Enterprise Florida 8 Board of Directors, Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors, Broward Workshop Board of Directors, Council for Educational Change Member, CEO Council for the Broward Alliance University of Maryland-University College Enrollment: 32,540 (OUD) / 37,347 (IPEDS) o The UMUC website suggests enrollment of 90,000+ students 9 President: Susan C. Aldridge 6 Sondra F. Stallard. Forbes. 7 Biography: Andrew S. Rosen. The Washington Post Company. 8 Leadership: Andrew S. Rosen. Kaplan. 9 Office of the President. University of Maryland-University College. 6

7 o Education: BA, Sociology, Psychology, Colorado Women s College; MPA, University of Colorado; PhD, Public Administration, University of Colorado 10 Vice President, Aldridge & Associates Division Director, Denver Regional Council of Governments Faculty, National University of Singapore Vice President, World Marketing, Inc. Vice-Chancellor, University College, Troy University Director, Western Region, Troy University Director, International Programs, Troy University Vice President, Troy University o Appointed President, University of Maryland-University College in February Member, Governor s Distance Learning Task Force, Alabama Chair, US-China Forum on Distance Education Co-Chair, Task Force on Distance Learning Standards, US Department of Defense Member, Board of Visitors, Air University Walden University Enrollment: 29,455 (OUD) / 40,714 (IPEDS) President: Jonathan A. Kaplan 12 o Education: BA, Government, Harvard College; JD, Boston University School of Law Chief of Staff, National Economic Council Special Assistant to President Clinton for Economic Policy US Department of the Treasury Law Associate, Covington & Burling o Appointed President of Walden University in September 2007 Member, American Council on Education s Commission on International Initiatives Board of Directors, National Hispanic University Board of Directors, Advocates for Children and Youth 10 President. University of Maryland-University College Color in Freedom Symposium and Art Exhibition President Jonathan A. Kaplan. Walden University. 7

8 Nova Southeastern University Enrollment: 27,518 (OUD) / 29,135 (IPEDS) President: George L. Hanbury II 13 o Education: BS, Virginia Tech; MS, Public Administration, Old Dominion University; PhD, Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University Assistant City Manager, Norfolk, Virginia City Manager, Portsmouth, Virginia City Manager, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida o Came to Nova Southeastern University in 1998 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Appointed President of Nova Southeastern University in January Board of Directors, Florida Lambda Rail Board of Directors, Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors, Library Foundation of Broward County Member, Finance Committee, First United Methodist Church of Ft. Lauderdale American Intercontinental University Online Enrollment: 22,173 (OUD) / 26,630 (IPEDS) President: Stephen J. Tober o Education: BA, Amherst College; JD, University of Virginia School of Law 14 Managing Director & Head of Corporate and Business Services Group, ThinkEquity Partners, LLC Co-Chairman and President, Top Driver Acquisition, LLC President, Woodstone Consulting o Joined AIU as Chief Operating Officer in October Served as CEO of AIU and Interim President of AIU Online. Appointed President of AIU Online in April. 15 Capella University Enrollment: 21,773 (OUD) / 31,998 (IPEDS) President: Larry Isaak Office of the President. Nova Southeastern University AIU Governing Board. American Intercontinental University Stephen J. Tober. Forbes Hammerand, Jim. Capella University Names New President, Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, August 24,

9 o Education: BA, Business Administration, University of North Dakota; MBA, University of North Dakota President, Midwestern Higher Education Compact Commissioner, Midwestern Higher Education Compact Chair, State Higher Education Executive Officers Chancellor, North Dakota University System o Will take over for Interim President Mike Offerman in November 2010 DeVry University Enrollment: 19,417 (OUD) / 30,127 (IPEDS) President: David J. Pauldine o Education: BA, Marketing, University of Dayton; MA, Leadership, Antioch University 17 Executive Vice President, DeVry University, Inc. President, The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation (EDMC) Chief Marketing Officer, EDMC Board of Directors, The Career College Association 18 o Appointed President of DeVry University, Inc. in July David J. Pauldin. BusinessWeek David J. Pauldine. DeVry University David Pauldine. Forbes. 9

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