The big 10 in the online higher education space have claimed approximately 1.3 million students, students who might have enrolled in traditional on-campus institutions.
According to recent data, the largest online higher education provider is Western Governors University, with an enrollment of 175,000 students. Southern New Hampshire serves 154,000 online students, and the University of Phoenix 150,000.
The reality is that these schools will continue to add new students each year, in larger and larger quantities. To put it another way, an online giant can add enough additional student enrollment, that they are comparatively absorbing the equivalent of an entire college…each. These students are coming away from your market and major programs.
The big 10 are impressive. But there are a number of smaller online competitors that may also be taking a share of your potential students. Some may be fully online schools, while others may offer hybrid studies, with significantly competitive and attractive online programs that lure not just new enrollments, but existing students as well.