The Expansion of Higher Education Online: Comparing Minority-Serving Institutions and Primarily White Institutions

• In Event: 21020 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 13: Equity, Engagement, and Global Perspectives in the Evolving Learning Landscape

Abstract

In recent years, higher education institutions have faced increasing scrutiny regarding their accessibility, prompting many to expand their online course offerings as a way to reach diverse student populations. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the viability of large-scale online courses, encouraging many universities and colleges to expand their digital offerings. This paper examines trends in investment patterns in online/remote courses across different types of institutions, specifically comparing Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) - Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Emerging HSIs - and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Drawing from theories of organizational decision-making and academic capitalism, this study uses quantitative data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (NCES-IPEDS) to identify macro-level trends in investments in online/remote education between Minority-Serving and Predominantly White Institutions from 2012-2022. Understanding these investment trends is essential because online education has rapidly become the fastest-growing segment of US higher education. Findings indicate that HBCUs and HSIs are increasing their investments in online education at a faster rate than their PWI counterparts. MSIs may be prioritizing online education as a means to overcome challenges related to limited funding and to better serve their diverse student bodies. For instance, HBCUs and HSIs often enroll larger numbers of commuter students, working adults, and students with family responsibilities, all of whom are more likely to benefit from flexible, remote learning options. As such, these institutions may be responding to the growing demand for online courses by investing more heavily in expanding online offerings. Further, the need for financial sustainability may drive MSIs to expand online offerings, as they often face greater budgetary constraints than PWIs. The rapid expansion of online education raises important questions about equity in higher education. If MSIs are investing more in online education, this could lead to a new form of differentiation in the educational landscape, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities between Minority-Serving and Predominantly White Institutions, and deepening disparities in student outcomes.

Author

• Kea Saper, University of California-San Diego