Distance Education

Student enrollments and credits in distance education courses are shown.

The dashboard below is designed for viewing on larger screens. On some devices, you may be able to scroll left and right to view obscured content.

Technical Notes

Distance Education Annual Unduplicated Headcounts

Annual unduplicated count of students enrolled in at least one distance education course. A course is defined as distance education if at least 75% of its instructional content and interaction is delivered exclusively via internet, audio conference or other media.

Distance Education Annual Credits Generated

Distance Education Credits Generated refers to the total number of academic credits earned by students in distance education courses. A course is defined as distance education if at least 75% of its instructional content and interaction is delivered exclusively via internet, audio conference or other media.

Enrollment in Distance Education Courses Table View

See definitions for Annual Unduplicated Headcounts and Credits Generated above.

Enrollment in Distance Education Programs

Distance Education Programs used here are those developed by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In 2024, HLC refined its delivery mode categories for greater precision, so the current classifications are not directly comparable to the previous ones. Delivery modes as of 2024 are:

Fully Distance (FD): An academic degree program in which a student may complete all (100%) of required coursework via distance education (SYS 102.A).
Mixed Modality (MM): An academic degree program in which a student may complete 50% or more of the required coursework via distance education. In some programs, students may be provided options to complete the program in multiple formats—In-person, Fully Distance, or in a combination of delivery formats (SYS 102.A).

Prior to 2024, the delivery modes were:

Distance Education (DE): An academic degree program in which a student may complete 50% or more of the required coursework via distance education methods, they include fully online and mixed modality offerings.
Distance Education and Face-to-Face (DE & F2F): An academic program in which a student may complete 50% or more of the required coursework via distance education methods that can also be completed fully or mostly in-person. Includes fully online and mixed modality offerings with an alternate fully in-person option and mixed modality offerings with a substantial in-person option.

UW Distance Education Program Array

The Distance Education Program Array consists of active academic programs that deliver instruction through Distance Education modalities, aligned with the revised program type definitions listed above.

FLEX and Independent Learning

UW-Flexible Option (FLEX): Competency-based education model with fully online, self-paced courses. Courses have 12 start dates each year with 12-week subscription periods. Learners can enroll in a single course or all-you-can-learn each subscription period.

Independent Learning (IL): Fully online, self-paced courses offered through distance education. Courses are continuously open for enrollment and allow learners to progress independently without fixed schedules.