Skidmore Blames Economy as Its Online Degree Program Falters
Despite reports that the sagging economy may lead more students to enroll in online courses because they are cheaper and offer flexibility, Skidmore College's decades-old distance learning program may soon shutter its doors.
Skidmore's University Without Walls distance and online learning program first began in 1971 as an independent study and distance learning program. It has been losing more than US$100,000 a year since 2003, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.
University Without Walls costs full-time students about $6,300 per semester, compared to the $25,000 that regular residential students pay. The accredited program offers degrees in many disciplines, including computer science, chemistry, biology, business and art. Last year, the program had about 130 enrolled students, The Times Union reported.
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