More students enrolling in online college classes

Slow economy, high gas prices contribute to popularity, colleges say

The 17-year-old considered taking traditional classes, but gave up when she realized that driving back and forth could cost her almost as much in gas as she would pay for her tuition.

‘‘I don’t want to be driving around all the time,” Hill said. ‘‘I live outside of Frederick. That’s 40 minutes, about 20 miles. It adds up.”

Hill is no exception at local colleges. Driven by skyrocketing gas prices, a stalling economy or a growing necessity to maintain a steady job, more and more students are becoming interested in online college classes.

At Frederick Community College, enrollment in online classes was up 21 percent this summer over last. Today, 6.4 percent of Frederick Community College students take only online or hybrid classes and 22.2 percent of all students at the school take at least one online or hybrid course. Hybrid classes require students to attend some classes on campus, along with online coursework.

The trend is more visible among community colleges, where most students commute, work full-time jobs or may be supporting a family.

But traditionally classroom-oriented, four-year colleges are also witnessing increased interest in online learning.

‘‘I am hearing more and more students ask about online courses,” said John Sherwood, dean of continuing studies at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg.

This fall, Mount St. Mary’s is launching a number of pilot hybrid courses in marketing information systems and business policy. The classes are targeted at working students, said Carolyn Jacobson, director of graduate and adult business programs at the university.

Jurgen Hilke, director of the Office for Distance Learning at Frederick Community College said he plans to survey online students this fall to find out if gas prices played a significant decision in class choices.

‘‘When the economy is in bad shape, community colleges tend to increase their enrollment,” he said.

Enrollment in online programs at Frederick Community College has increased continuously since the college offered its first online class in 1998. The program started as a single class with eight students. Ten years later, the college offers more than 100 online classes and serves nearly 4,500 students every year.

Traditionally, students choose online classes for one of two reasons – they need a flexible schedule so they can work full-time, or they have a family circumstance (a baby or sick relative) which requires them to stay at home, Hilke said.

Online classes are not a universal solution. Some classes require in-person participation. And not all students are capable of succeeding.

Hill said she received plenty of warnings from her registration advisor. ‘‘They just kept telling me that you have to be very focused to do that,” she said.