As Distance Education continues to grow, student body becomes increasingly diverse

Just a little over three years since it launched, Unity College Distance Education has seen growth beyond the College’s loftiest expectations. In its first term, 10 students were enrolled in the master’s program. Now, Unity College Distance Education is serving more than 700 undergraduate and graduate students. Each year, the number of place-bound and diverse students working toward a degree from America’s Environmental College increases, enabling the College to truly live its mission.

After evaluating the effects of our growth, Unity College has found that economies of scale have enabled the College to reduce its graduate degree tuition from $870 per credit hour to $650, and from $783 for active military and veterans to $585. The change will start with the next term, which begins Aug. 17. This news comes on the heels of undergraduate tuition costs being re-evaluated and reduced just last year.

“This is important to us. Projected growth allows us to make a quality private environmental education more affordable. Access and affordability are two of the pillars on which we built Unity College Distance Education, and as a result, we’ve also seen a dramatic increase in diversity within the Unity College community, reaching learners where they are,” said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury.

In fact, 18 percent of Unity College Distance Education students self-identified as “diverse” in a recent survey, and students reside in 49 states. While we have a long way to go to reflect the true diversity of our nation, it is another step in the right direction.

“Being a first-generation American myself, having grown up in The Gambia, making our programs easily accessible to students all over the world from all types of backgrounds is encouraging and inspiring to me,” said Dr. Khoury. “Our mission is more critical than ever, and it is my vision that Unity College becomes even more inclusive, so that the sustainability leaders of tomorrow truly come from all walks of life.”

Unity College Distance Education also continues to expand its course and degree offerings for both its graduate and undergraduate programs. This summer, the College is hoping to add new masters in disciplines such as marine biology, animal science and behavior, and environmental law.

“The new programs that we’re hoping to introduce, in concert with this reduction in tuition costs, will open up a lot of opportunities to reach more working professionals looking to advance in their careers,” said Dr. Amy Arnett, Vice President of Unity College Distance Education. “The feedback we have received since launching Distance Education has been outstanding, and we’ve had some great outcomes from our master’s program. I’m looking forward to seeing their continued success as we expand.”

“Having the ability to reduce our tuition rates for graduate students as we continue to grow is a huge step in reaching more professionals. As I’ve said many times before, the world needs more Unity College graduates, and I recognize that Unity College needs a more ethnically diverse alumni base. Through Distance Education, we are truly opening up our world to learners who may not have thought that getting a quality, environmental education was an option for them,” said Dr. Khoury. “My hope is that next time we evaluate tuition costs, our numbers are such that we can continue this trend of reducing costs.”

Those interested in applying for the online degree program can apply and learn more by visiting unity.edu/distance-education.